Nelson, Gaetz Qualify As Federal Office Qualifying Begins
May 1, 2018
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, Florida’s lone statewide elected Democrat, formally qualified to run for a fourth term Monday as he faces a challenge from Republican Gov. Rick Scott.
Nelson made his candidacy official as the qualifying period for federal offices opened at noon Monday.
Meanwhile, 17 of the state’s 27 incumbent U.S. House members also qualified when the period opened, with three — Republicans Matt Gaetz of Fort Walton Beach and Brian Mast of Palm City, and Democrat Val Demings of Orlando — facing primary challenges.
Scott did not qualify Monday. Instead, his campaign team touted raising $3.2 million since Scott announced three weeks ago that he was entering the Senate race.
But it’s still early in the week. Federal candidates, along with candidates for judgeships and state-attorney and public-defender posts, have until noon Friday to qualify.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Pictured: Rep. Matt Gaetz meets with the Cantonment Improvement Committee on April 20. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Fall To The Jumbo Shrimp
May 1, 2018
Eric Jagielo took matters into his own hands against his former club as the Jumbo Shrimp won Monday’s matinee by a 5-3 final.
In the third inning with the game tied at two, Jagielo doubled off Wahoos starter Wyatt Strahan (L, 3-2) to score Monte Harrison, which gave the Shrimp a 3-2 lead. He would later score in the inning on a wild pitch by Strahan, giving the Shrimp a two-run advantage.
Those two runs neutralized a two-run rally the Wahoos strung together in the top of the inning. Luis Gonzalez hit his first Double-A home run to get the visitors on the board and Shed Long scored on a sacrifice fly by Gabriel Guerrero to temporarily tie the game at 2-2. Strahan struggled for the first time on the road this season and was removed from the game after just three innings of work.
Max Duval (W, 1-2) did enough to secure his first win of the season. Outside of the third inning, Duval avoided danger and held the Wahoos to three hits and two runs (one earned) over his five innings. Jumbo Shrimp manager Randy Ready used four different relievers to secure the win for Jacksonville.
In the top of the eighth, Pensacola tried to mount a late-game comeback when C.J. McElroy delivered a pinch-hit single to score Josh VanMeter. With the score 5-3, Gavin LaValley came to the plate—representing the go-ahead run—and stuck out to end the inning.
Pensacola had another chance in the ninth off Jumbo Shrimp closer Jose Quijada (S, 2). After Brian O’Grady was hit by a pitch and Guerrero singled, VanMeter came to the dish as the go-ahead run. However, VanMeter popped out to third to end the series.
The Blue Wahoos open another homestand this Wednesday when the Mississippi Braves come to town. Pensacola’s only series victory this season came against the M-Braves two weeks ago. RHP Daniel Wright (2-1, 6.46) will get the nod for the Wahoos against M-Braves RHP Kyle Wright (1-3, 4.66). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35.
Vehicle Hits Century Whataburger
April 30, 2018
A vehicle hit the Whataburger restaurant in Century Monday afternoon.
The driver was not seriously injured, and damage to the building was said to be cosmetic, not structural. The business remained open as usual.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
ECSO Identifies Body Found Sunday Near Creek In Cantonment
April 30, 2018
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has identified the body found near a creek in Cantonment Sunday afternoon as David Ashley Mixon, 36.
Foul play is not suspected at this time, but investigators are still waiting on the final report from the Medical Examiner’s Office, according to Maj. Andrew Hobbs, spokesperson for the ECSO.
The body was discovered by children playing in the creek found the body east of a bridge on Highway 297A near County Road 97.
A relative of the children said they returned home and told him about the discovery.
“I wasn’t sure if they were kidding or had made up a story,” he said, “so walked in the creek back down there again. That’s not something I ever want to see again.”
The body was located some 200 to 300 yards off the roadway, not directly under the bridge.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Search Continues For Molino Woman’s Killer; Family Shares Her Writings, Memorial
April 30, 2018
Today marks one year since a Molino woman was murdered, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says the hunt for the killer continues.
Anna Louis Brown, also known as Anna Louise Brown Vega, was found shot and killed on Gibson Road off Crabtree Church Road in Molino on April 30, 2017. Brown, 38, was pronounced deceased at the scene; her body was discovered on or near the roadway.
Investigators believe the murder was not a random act of violence, and they believe Brown knew the person that killed her. No suspect has been named.
“Anna was a caring and compassionate person, helping others and ministering to them with God’s love and grace. She never met a stranger, often smiling and greeting many with whom she came into contact,” Anna’s mother, Sue Brown, said in statement released for the anniversary of her death.
She said Anna had a vivacious personality with a joy for living life to the fullest, loved horses, walking through the woods, running and diving. She was active in her church and took several mission trips.
When Anna joined a class at Hamilton Baptist Church in Robertsdale, Anna was asked to write down something about her life.
“I am …doing life as a working, blessed Mom of two amazing children,” Anna wrote. “I love being a mom! There are moments and days and situations that are tough and rough and painful and challenging and hard; but the joy of loving and having the privilege to nurture and teach my kids is a gift. I know they are each God’s first, and that helps me worry less when they are away,” Anna wrote. “I work as a Physical Therapist Assistant …I love doing therapy!”
She continued, “I have a great family. I have wonderful parents and I have a growing relationship with my Creator, my Lord, my salvation, my strength, provider, comforter and friend. With my natural family and my church family, I am never alone or separated. I receive love and support and physical, tangible help when it’s needed. That support and encouragement makes single parenting not so single! Yay!”
Anna’s mom has also shared entries from Anna Brown’s journal as seen on this page. The ones above and to the left are from April 29, 2017 – the day before her death.
Anyone with information on the murder is asked to contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or call Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP
To read the complete statement from Brown’s family and the words of Anna Brown, click here.
Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hanna Nelson, Jackson Flowers Named EREC Scholarship Winners
April 30, 2018
Saturday, Escambia River Electric Cooperative awarded two $4,000 scholarships to local high school seniors. The Escambia County winner was Hannah Nelson from Northview High School, and the Santa Rosa County winner was Jackson Flowers from Jay High School.
The award were presented Saturday during EREC’s annual meeting at Northview High School.
This was EREC’s 21st year to offer the Herman D. Johnson Scholarship Awards to a graduating senior with a parent or guardian that is a member of the cooperative..
In the past, capital credits issued by EREC that were unclaimed had to be turned over to the state. But state legislation now allows such funds to be deposited into a qualified, educational charity fund. The EREC membership voted to use these funds in the form of scholarships.
Both students will receive $1,000 for each of four years provided they continue to meet the scholarship criteria.
Pictured top: EREC Board of Trustees President Rick Hunsucker presents a Herman D. Johnson Scholarship Award to Hanna Nelson of Northview High School Saturday. Pictured inset: Scholarship recipient Jackson Flowers. He was unable to attend the presentation Saturday due to a school-related trip. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
New Bridges Open On Arthur Brown, Nokomis Roads
April 30, 2018
Two newly constructed bridges in the Walnut Hill area are now open.
Nokomis Road
A new prefabricated steel bridge bridge on Nokomis Road over Reedy Creek in McDavid is now open to traffic.
Construction included replacement of the bridge and bridge approaches. The new bridge is approximately 10 feet wider than the old bridge, with the addition of 5-foot shoulders on either side. The new bridge is solid American steel with corrugated decks that are paved with asphalt after installation for several decades of service.
Due to structural deficiencies, the state ordered the old Nokomis Road bridge closed in December.
Arthur Brown Road
Traffic on Arthur Brown Road (County Road 99A) over Boggy Creek in Walnut Hill was moved to a newly constructed bridge on Saturday. Crews will now disassemble the temporary bridge and complete miscellaneous work items. The entire project, which is near the Walnut Hill Baptist Church, is anticipated to be complete in June, weather permitting.
The new bridge includes 11-foot travel lanes, 6-foot shoulders and a solid concrete barrier railing. The bridge approaches have also been replaced.
Nokomis Road
Pictured top: A newly opened bridge on Arthur Brown Road in Walnut Hill. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Warm Spring Weather With Low To Mid 80’s All Week
April 30, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 81. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 86. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 86. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Town Of Century Presents Free Women’s Self Defense Class
April 30, 2018
The Town of Century presented a free women’s self defense class on Saturday.
Participants learned simple but effective techniques that can be used against an attacker in multiple situations.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary Names Students Of The Month
April 30, 2018
The following students were named Students of the Month for April at Bratt Elementary School.
Pre-K
- Tendrell Johnsen
- Juliet McDonald
Kindergarten
- Walker Morris
- Kallie Ikner
- Cameron Gipson
- Brian Sanders
- Ivyonna Knight
First Grade
- X’zavion Williams
- Jonathan Patrick
- Madison Rice
- Kimmora Thomas
Second Grade
- Tyler McAnally
- Wyatt Spence
- Chloe Satterwhite
- Makinzi Roley
Third Grade
- Dakota Richardson
- Margret Baker
- Trinity Bryan
Fourth Grade
- Jeremy Thomas
- Fallon Hubbard
- J.C. Glenn
- Sophia Adkins
Fifth Grade
- Landon Hawthorne
- Payton Daw
- Brayden Reaves
- Derek Kinley