Pilot Killed In Crop Duster Crash Identified
June 16, 2020
The pilot was killed when a crop duster plane crashed north of Atmore Tuesday morning.
Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson has identified the victim as Eddie Gideons, a well-loved member of the local community.
“Escambia County lost a good man today,” Jackson said.
The plane went down off Gideons Lake Road off Atmosphere Road. That’s just north of I-65 near the Poarch/Jacks Springs Road Exit.
It crashed about 7:30 a.m. in a brushy area near a gravel lake.. The accident scene was just behind a lake house in an area Jackson said was initially difficult to reach.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is conducting the initial death investigation. The FAA is responding to investigate the cause of the crash.
There was no one else on board the single engine aircraft.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
Motorcyclist Airlifted To The Hospital After Highway 97 Crash With Pickup Truck
June 16, 2020
A motorcyclist was critically injured in a crash with a pickup truck Monday night in Davisville.
The crash between the motorcyclist and a Nissan Titan happened about 8:35 p.m. at Highway 97 and Nokomis Road. The motorcyclist was thrown into the windshield of the truck.
He was airlifted by LifeFlight helicopter to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released additional information.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
A Slight Chance Of A Tuesday Shower; Otherwise Sunny And Warm
June 16, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. Calm wind.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 87. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 92.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 92.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Free Produce Giveaway Wednesday At Highland Baptist Church
June 16, 2020
Highland Baptist Church will host a free fresh produce box giveaway again this Wednesday.
It will take place from 3-4 p.m., or while supplies last at the church, 6240 Highway 95A in Molino. It is limited to one box per vehicle. The produce is being provided in conjunction with the USDA and Gulf Coast Produce.
For more information, call (850) 587-5174.
Suspected Burglar Caught In The Act In Jay
June 16, 2020
A suspected burglar was caught in the act in Jay.
Michael Bradley Shelby, age 32 of Jay, was caught by the owner as he tried to break into an enclosed utility trailer at a barn in the 5300 block of Wiley Scott Road, according to a Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office arrest report. Shelby told the owner he was trying to use the phone because he had been in an altercation with another individual at the the place he had been staying “down the street”.
The deputy noted Shelby appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or narcotics based upon his speech and movements, and tools were used in an attempt to pry open the side door of the trailer.
Shelby told the deputy “maybe, I don’t know” when asked about breaking into the trailer, and he admitted to smoking spice, the report states. He remained in the Santa Rosa County Jail with bond set at $5,000.
Century Council Takes Issue With Only Nominee For Vacant Council Seat, Postpones Decision
June 16, 2020
The Century Town Council decided Monday night to wait until their next meeting to appoint someone to a vacant seat on their board.
Ben Boutwell resigned from the council last week to run for mayor. That put his Seat 3 position on this year’s ballot, and allowed the council to appoint a new member for the rest of the year to fulfill the remainder of his term.
Monday night, Council President Ann Brooks said she thought it was important the council not appoint any current candidate to the council, and nominated Mary Bourgeois to the seat.
Bourgeois ran for a council seat in 2016 but was defeated by James Smith. She owns a local business and is president of the local chamber. But the problem with Bourgeois for council member Luis Gomez, Jr. was the fact the she is campaign treasurer for Shelisa McCall, a candidate for the seat. Gomez said the appointment might make it appear that the council is biased toward a particular candidate.
“That might be a little bit of an unfair advantage,” Gomez said.
Mayor Henry Hawkins noted that Bourgeois is also chairperson of the town’s Charter Review Committee, and that would be a conflict of interest.
There were no other nominations made Monday.
On the recommendation of Gomez and Hawkins, the council agreed to submit their nominations by the close of business on July 1 and make an appointment at their next regular meeting on July 6.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Portion Of Pineville Road Closed For A Month For Bridge Repair
June 16, 2020
South Pineville Road at Jackson Springs Branch will be closed for bridge repair for about a month.
Additionally, South Pineville Road will be closed for through traffic from Occie Phillips Road to Highway 97A.
The 30-foot long wooden support bridge was constructed in 1966.
NorthEscambia.com graphic and submitted photo, click or tap to enlarge.
High School Football Teams Begin Conditioning
June 16, 2020
High school football workouts got underway for the first time Monday under guidelines due to COVID-19.
Players and coaches will follow social distancing guidelines, as many activities as possible will be held outdoors, and there will be extra cleaning of indoor facilities.
Pictured top and bottom photo: Football workouts at Tate High School. Pictured first two photos below: Workouts at Tate High School. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF & Texas A&M-Commerce Announce Home-And-Home Football Series
June 16, 2020
UWF and Texas A&M-Commerce have announced a home-and-home football series between the programs for the 2020 and 2021 seasons on Monday.
The teams will open the 2020 season on Thursday, Sept. 3 in Pensacola in a rematch of the 2017 NCAA Division II National Championship Game. The schools will also play Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021 in Commerce, Texas.
For UWF, the game replaces the game with West Virginia Wesleyan after the Mountain East Conference chose to play a conference-only season this year. A&M-Commerce was slated to play Simon Fraser – the only Canadian D2 member – in week one.
“Following Florida Tech’s announcement to drop football and then the MEC’s decision to play only conference games, we felt it was very important to our student-athletes and fans to get a fourth home game back on the schedule,” UWF Director of Athletics Dave Scott said. “With the addition of Texas A&M-Commerce, not only do we get to play an opponent our fans are familiar with, but we now have one of the most attractive home schedules in our history.”
UWF went 13-2 and won its first NCAA Division II Football National Championship last season. The Argonauts have won 30 games in the last three seasons with a 9-1 mark in two NCAA Playoff appearances.
UWF is ranked No. 1 nationally in preseason polls by both Street & Smith’s and Lindy’s Sports magazines in their college football preview editions.
“I am very thankful for the hard work done by both athletic directors to get this done on short notice,” UWF head coach Pete Shinnick said. “It will be great to open the season at home against one of the best teams in the country.”
A&M-Commerce is ranked No. 3 by Street & Smith’s and No. 8 by Lindy’s Sports. The Lions have qualified for the NCAA Division II Football Championship the last five seasons, which is the third-longest active streak in the division.
UWF’s 2020 home schedule also includes three Gulf South Conference games – Shorter on Sept. 26, Valdosta State – ranked No. 5 & 3 in the two publications as well – on Oct. 10 and West Georgia on Oct. 31.
Over 20,000 Free Meals Distributed At The Library. Here’s How The Program Works.
June 16, 2020
West Florida Libraries have served over 20,000 free curbside meals for youth 18 and under since March in conjunction with Feeding the Gulf Coast.
There were 1,760 free meals served at the library locations just last week.
Meals are available for pickup at all WFPL library locations on Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Library locations are:
- Molino Branch Library, 6450-A Highway 95A, Molino
- Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St., Pensacola
- Tryon Beach Library, 1200 Langley Ave., Pensacola
- Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 N. 9th Ave., Pensacola
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola
- Westside Branch Library, 1301 W. Gregory St., Pensacola
- Century Branch Library, 7991 N. Century Blvd., Century
The meal includes lunch. Meals are available on a first come, first served basis. Youth ages 18 and under must be present to receive meals; food will not be given to adults.
“All of our employees have a passion for the community we serve and without feeding the body, a child cannot feed their mind,” Todd Humble, Library Services director said. “We are proud to have been recognized as the leading provider of meals in the Mississippi, Alabama and Florida Gulf Coast region that Feeding the Gulf Coast services.”