‘A Question of When,’ Exhibition Reflecting On The World During COVID-19 Pandemic Opens At Museum Of Art
June 19, 2020
On Saturday, June 20, the Pensacola Museum of Art will open a new exhibition in response to our changing world during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Throughout history, art has played a unique and crucial role in times of change. Featuring works by Marc Chagall, Walker Evans, Joan Miró and other artists from the museum’s permanent collection, “A Question of When” is a visual representation of the collective grief and ongoing sense of hope felt by many as this situation unfolds.
The museum was originally set to host a permanent collection show to feature recent museum acquisitions, but due to the pandemic, the show has evolved with the crisis to reflect both the strangeness of a new reality and the unique role of art in times of change.
The objects in the show represent over 100 years of art making across a variety of media.
“Some works evoke the isolation of social distancing through their imagery,” said Anna Wall, chief curator of the museum. “Others demonstrate how artists reflect larger societal shifts through abstraction and the dissolution of form.”
Though the selections in this show represent a small fraction of the nearly 700 artworks held by the museum, they illustrate the breadth of the museum’s holdings and highlight the institution’s mission to preserve, interpret and share diverse artworks and artists from the past 150 years of visual culture.
“Exhibiting our permanent collection feels appropriate on the heels of a stay-at-home measure,” Wall said. “Spurred by funding cuts and decreased access to artists and artworks, many museums will undoubtedly look inward and showcase a larger percentage of their collection over the coming years.”
“A Question of When” is on display at the museum, which is located at 407 S. Jefferson St. in historic downtown Pensacola, until Sept. 6, 2020. For more information about the Pensacola Museum of Art, call (850) 432-6247 or visit pensacolamuseum.org.
Former Nanny, Porn Actress Now Charged With Human Trafficking
June 18, 2020
A former nanny and foster care provider arrested in April on child sex charges has now been charged with human trafficking.
Nicole Lynn Walter, age 27 of 10071 Foxrun Road, was previously charged with lewd and lascivious exhibition with a victim under 16, possession of child pornography, battery of a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence. Walter, according to investigators, is a porn actress.
“We continued our investigation and determined there was an exchange of money for a video that was made involving some minor children,” said Chief Deputy Chip Simmons. “This was an individual from out of state that engaged with Walter.”
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office obtained at least three videos filmed by Walter between 2017 and 2018 in which she allegedly performed sexual acts in front of small children as they were crying and playing the background, the report states. The children are now ages 3 and 6, but the youngest was 15 months old when the videos were recorded.
According to an arrest report, investigators interviewed at least one person that paid Walter for videos. He told investigators that she had price rates for videos with or without the children, and she offered live Skype video calls with a child seen on camera for $8 per minute.
Simmons said Walter was paid at least $100 for one video.
Walter has also used the names Nicole Steff and Nicole Stearns, according to investigators. She remained in the Santa Rosa County Jail without bond.
According to a tip received by the Florida Abuse Hotline, Walter is self-employed porn actress that makes videos of herself masturbaing in public locations. Investigators were given a thumb drive containing three video files depicting Walter in various public places masturbating in the presence of the underage victims.
A three-year old female told investigators that Walter touched her privates and took photographs, according to an arrest report.
A Florida Department of Law Enforcement K-9 located a micro SD card underneath drawers in the bedroom that contained child pornography depicting female approximately 10-13 years old nude and posing in sexual positions, the report states. A laptop seized as evidence contained a videos of a completely nude Walter masturbating and engaging in conversation with two children and a third person whose name was redacted from the arrest report.
Toddler Run Over By Pickup Truck Wednesday Evening
June 18, 2020
A toddler girl was run over by a vehicle Wednesday evening in the Quintette community.
Witnesses said a wheel of a full-size pickup truck passed over the young girl on a private drive or lane off the 2000 block of Stacey Road about 7:30 p.m.
A medical helicopter responded to the nearby Quintette Ballpark, but the girl was transported to a local hospital by ambulance as a non-trauma alert.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Cantonment and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded.
Further details have not been released.
NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Century Man Charged With Hitting Neighbor, 66, In The Head With A Stick
June 18, 2020
A Century man has been charged with hitting his 66-year old neighbor in the head with a stick.
William Randall Coker, 51, was charged was aggravated battery on a person 65 years of age or older.
The 66-year old victim told deputies that he heard Coker yelling from his Front Street residence and went to check on his well being. When he knocked on the front door, Coker emerged from the residence with a “stick” and struck him on the head with it, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report. The victim returned to his residence.
Responding deputies found the victim with three-inch cut on the left side of his head just below his ear, along with blood on Coker’s front porch and in the street, the report states. The victim was transported by family members to Jay Hospital for treatment.
Deputies seized a homemade machete, two large wooden sticks and a large knife from Coker.
Coker’s statement was radacted from the arrest report.
Ransom Middle Innovation Center Renamed For Sandra Goldsby Ames
June 18, 2020
The Ransom Middle School Innovation Center has been officially renamed the “Sandra Goldsby Ames Innovation Center”.
The name change was in honor of Sandra Goldsby Ames who is retiring this year after serving the Escambia County School District for 39 years. She has served as an English teacher, administrative dean, assistant principal and principal. In the past she has also represented Ransom as their Teacher of the Year and ECSD as the Assistant Principal of the Year.
“My Ransom family and friends have been amazing to me,” Ames told the Escambia County School Board. “While I do not think I deserve such an important honor, I am extremely humbled and very appreciative of the love and support that they have shown me throughout my years.”
She is known to embody the values of pride, teamwork, privacy, safety, service, stewardship, and accountability, according a school board resolution. She has supported reading and language arts instruction, as well as encouraged the creative use of the school’s library as it transitioned into an innovation center.
Pictured top: Ransom Middle School Principal Dr. Regina Lipnick (left), Sandra Goldsby Ames and Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. Pictured inset: Ames addresses the Escambia County School Board. Pictured below: Ames will family, friends and coworkers after the school board meeting. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Not A Turkey After All? Florida TaxWatch Informs DeSantis Of Support For The Bluffs Industrial Complex In Cantonment
June 18, 2020
Last week, The Bluffs in Cantonment was included in the 2020 Budget Turkey Watch Report released by Florida TaxWatch in the think tank’s annual independent review of the state’s budget, and they recommended that Gov. Ron Desantis veto funding for the project.
But now TaxWatch says The Bluffs was named a budget turkey due to a longstanding position that programs that are not in the Florida Department of Transportation Work Program in that budget year should not be funded with State Transportation Trust Fund dollars.
“However, in the recent past Florida TaxWatch undertook a thorough independent research study, Expanding Florida’s High-Tech Manufacturing Sector, the results of which proved that an investment aiding the development of The Bluffs would help grow Florida’s Economy and create jobs for hard-working Floridians, especially in Northwest Florida,” Dominic M. Calabro, president and CEO of Florida TaxWatch wrote in a letter Tuesday to DeSantis.
“It is important to note that our issue with this project was one of a technical process, not the net economic benefits that will enrich both the Panhandle and the entire Sunshine State. Florida TaxWatch fully supports The Bluffs and we hope that you will too,” Calabro continued.
Announced in late 2015, The Bluffs was envisioned as the home of up to 60 new industrial and manufacturing companies and more than 15,000 jobs. The 6,000 acre master-planned development area includes about 1,700 acres of land that can be developed in an area east of Highway 29 bordered by the Escambia River to the east, Becks Lake Road near International Paper to the north, and the University of West Florida to the south.
Escambia County Program Putting Young People To Work
June 18, 2020
An Escambia County program is putting young people to work.
Called the “Escambia County Youth Employment Program”, participants ages 16-24 have the chance to work up to 30 hours per week at $8.56 per hour, a dime above minimum wage.
There are 95 youth participating in the program this year. They started work last week in departments across the county, including Public Works, Public Safety, ECAT, West Florida Public Libraries and more.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
24 Hours In Escambia County: Two Drive-By Shootings And A Stabbing
June 17, 2020
In less than 24 hours, there were two drive-by shootings and a stabbing in Escambia County.
Untreiner Avenue
At about 6:55 p.m. Tuesday, one person was hospitalized after a drive-by shooting that ended with an overturned vehicle.
It started on Aaron Drive when gunfire was exchanged between two vehicles. The vehicles chased each other, with one flipping over on Untreiner Avenue. One person was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds inside the overturned vehicle and was transported to a local hospital.
Deputies were searching for a red Kia, the second vehicle involved.
Cross Street
Another drive-by shooting happened a little before 2 a.m. Wednesday at Cross Street and North E Street. Gunfire was exchanged between the vehicles.
The Sheriff’s Office said there were witnesses, but they would not talk with deputies. Several shell casings were recovered at the scene, but there were no reported injuries.
Motel Stabbing
One person was reportedly stabbed during the 11 o’clock hour Wednesday morning at the Regency Inn on Pensacola Boulevard. He took himself to the hospital; an update on his condition was not provided.
Call Crime Stoppers
Anyone with information on any of the incidents is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP. Crime Stoppers callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward. Calls can also be made to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
ECAT Driver Tests Positive For COVID-19
June 17, 2020
An ECAT employee has tested positive for COVID-19, according to Escambia County.
ECAT management was notified by the employee on Tuesday, June 16. The individual drove on Saturday, June 13 for the first time since April 8.
The county is taking steps to notify employees, but a county news release made no mention of any attempt to notify passengers. The route driven by the employee was not released.
“Our priority remains the safety and health of our employees and passengers. The break room was fogged. Door handles are wiped down daily and there continues to be plenty of PPE and cleaning supplies. Buses are disinfected every night and ECAT operators are required to wear masks while driving buses,” the county said in a news release.
In conjunction with ECAT management, the Florida Department of Health will evaluate the ECAT facility for testing space today, and testing will be available Thursday and Friday on site for employees.
File photo.
Tate High School Names The Top Of The Class Of 2020
June 17, 2020
Tate High School has named the valedictorian, salutatorian and honors graduates for the Class of 2020.
Valedictorian is Gabriel Joseph Pfeuffer-Ferguson, and salutatorian is Nasim Said Boussarhane.
Graduation for the Tate High School Class of 2020 will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 23 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Admission tickets were distributed to each graduate for their family and friends.
The Top Ten Percent honors graduates are as follows:
- Gabriel Joseph Pfeuffer-Ferguson
- Nasim Said Boussarhane
- Melanie Rose Letourneau
- Catherine Jeline Alderman
- Kade Matthew Boyd
- Samuel Benjamin Donald Shinnick
- Sarah Grace Bryan
- Camille Leilani Macks
- Emma Grace Barlow
- Evan Michael Stojak
- Morgan Kate Yeager
- Joshua Robert Cagle
- David Alexander Dailey
- Jordan Diane Hay
- Savannah Alexis Weaver
- Mackenzie Noel Kent
- Simon Kenneth Fogle
- Matthew Kenneth Horace Johnson
- Ally Michelle-Parco Payne
- Makayla Erin McCabe
- Elizabeth Erin McConnell
- Braden Lane Boutwell
- John Joseph Pearce
- An Kien Tran
- Chase Allen Jenkins
- Charles James McKinley
- Nandini Jigar Shah
- Lydia Gay
- Tayler Christine Mills
- Shyla Nicole Penfold
- Baylor Ashton Phillips
- Alicia Star Perez
- Tyler Marcus Abner
- Bailey Mitchell Whitacre
- Lily Alizabeth Stronko
- Austin Eugene Witt
- Ronnie Alexander Plenkers
- Kayley Alexa Anderson
- Tra’lon Trae’mell Gillis
- Kaylen Brianna Lavoie
- Aaliyah Ann Marie Locke
- Matthew Kevin Hamrick
- Alexander Stephen Moorhead
- Kaley Elizabeth Mincy
- Logan Jamal Fenn
- Alexander Eugene Hicks
- Keirstin Rylie Burleson
- Samuel Ashton Shackle
Editor’s note: Due to a data transfer error, a portion of this list was originally transposed. It has now been corrected. 8:25 a.m.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.