Forte Leaves Escambia County’s Transportation And Traffic Boss, Joins The City of Pensacola
March 10, 2020
Escambia County’s former traffic and transportation manager has gone to work for the City of Pensacola.
Pensacola has hired David Forte to a fill the new position of capital improvement projects manager, responsible for managing and facilitating a variety of construction and capital projects in the city. Forte’s first day with the city was Monday.
Forte was mostly recently Escambia County’s Transportation and Traffic Operations division manager. He also previously served as transportation program manager, development program manager and urban planner for Escambia County.
As the city’s capital improvement projects manager, Forte’s responsibilities will include planning and coordinating activities to ensure projects are completed on time and within budget, along with ensuring the projects are of the highest quality within the available resources. Forte will also support community engagement efforts for major projects and act as a liaison with federal, state, local and other governmental agencies.
Forte is just one of the Escambia County employees that have gone for work for the City of Pensacola. Interim Escambia County Administrator Matt Coughlin left the county to become deputy director of the Pensacola International Airport. Former interim Escambia County Administrator Amy Lovoy resigned before becoming Pensacola’s finance director, and Escambia County Senior Community and Media Relations Specialist Kaycee Lagarde was named the public information officer for the City of Pensacola.
Marital Problems, Adulterous Affair Led Cantonment Man To Kill His Navy Wife In 2001, ECSO Says
March 9, 2020
Marital problems and an adulterous affair led a Cantonment man to kill his Navy wife in 2001, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
Friday, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrested Navy civilian employee Greg Malarik, age 57 of Riddle Road, with the 2001 murder of his wife, Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Sherri Malarik. Gregory Malarik, a former Navy Petty Officer 1st Class, was employed by the Naval Aviation Technical Training Center aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola.
Malarik was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
The body was Sherri Lynn Malarik was found September 22, 2001, at about 8 a.m. inside a Dodge Caravan in the parking lot of the Winn Dixie and Movie Gallery at 1550 South Highway 29, less than three miles from the couple’s home. She was found by family members who are not named in the report.
An autopsy found that she was murdered, shot twice in the head with a .25 caliber handgun. She was found in the floorboard of the van. Forensic evidence indicated that she was shot while seated in the passenger seat.
Gregory Malarik was interviewed, but his statements to investigators are redacted from the arrest report released Monday. Swabs taken from his hands the day of the murder were positive for gunshot residue, and pants believed to have been worn the night of the murder were found to have gunpowder in the left front pocket, the report states.
Investigators uncovered evidence that led them to believe Gregory Malarik was having an affair with another woman. She was interviewed, but her statements were also redacted from the report. Investigators said they believed Gregory Malarik drove Sherri Malarik to the Winn Dixie in the minivan, and his mistress drove him back home.
In 2017, a NCIS investigator examined phone records from the Malarik residence from the night of September 21, 2001. He found that multiple calls were made at 6:29 p.m., 7:59 p.m., 8 p.m. at 8:47 p.m. “This provided two periods of time sufficient for Malarik to have committed the homicide, transported (Sherri) Malarik’s body to Winn Dixie, and returned home,” the report states.
Multiple children in the home were interviewed in 2001 and have since been re-interviewed. All provided statements generally consistent with a timeframe provided by Gregory Malarik. However, one child said that Gregory Malarik called Sherri Malarik into the backyard on September 21, 2001. Shortly after seeing her go in the backyard, the child said they heard a “pop” similar to a firecracker. Gregory Malarik then immediately walked back inside, showered and changed clothes, the report states, before leaving for 10 to 15 minutes. That was sufficient time, the investigation found, to drive the victim to Winn Dixie.
The .25 caliber handgun used in the murder was never recovered, but the investigation revealed Gregory Malarik owned such a weapon at the time of the homicide.
The arrest report states that emails recovered show Gregory Malarik and his mistress had discussed “how to trick a polygraph” as early July 31, 2001.
An email from Sherri Malarik to her sister stated: “I believe that there is spiritual warfare going on in my home and Greg just can’t see it…He is simply upset because he feel that I put other people before him when I listed to the possibility of masonry being something other than it seems…He feels as if I betrayed him. Please keep us in your prayers…we need all the help we can get.”
The mistress was re-interviewed in May 7, 2002, and gave a similar account to her 2001 statements. She was interviewed again on March 6, 2020, during which she gave testimony that was inconsistent with her original statement, the arrest report states, leading investigators to believe her original statement about returning a lawn mower was a cover story. Those statements were redacted. Investigators believe she assisted in the homicide and the destruction of evidence which had been preplanned, possibility for several months as indicated by emails.
Fire Destroys Atmore Home
March 9, 2020
Fire destroyed a home in Atmore Monday morning.
The single story brick home at the corner of Marshall Avenue and West Owens Street was heavily involved in fire when the first firefighters arrived on scene shortly after 9:30 a.m. The house fire was reportedly caused by a vehicle fire in the garage that quickly spread.
The homeowner escaped injury, but a firefighter was reportedly injured.
The Atmore Fire Department, Poarch Creek Fire Department, Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Police and ASAP Ambulanc responded.
For more photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Modern Fire Station For Beulah Moves Much Closer To Becoming Reality
March 9, 2020
A modern fire station for the Beulah Fire Station has moved much closer to becoming a reality soon.
In June 2018, Escambia County made a $300,000 offer to purchase the fire station property at 6400 West Nine Mile Road from the non-profit Beulah Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. The property is about six acres with a 6,000 square foot fire station building. A portion of the property had a reverter clause that would return that portion of the property to the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, but ECUA agreed to release the claim.
The purchase was not complete until last week, delayed by missing paperwork and other delays that “just dragged on and on”, according to Commissioner Jeff Bergosh, who represents the Beulah area.
The next steps include funding a design firm to assess what is there at the current station and determine what’s needed for a next generation Beulah Fire Station. They will create a plan to renovate the existing facility and add on to meet the requirements. The plan will be developed in coordination with the firefighters and county facilities staff, Bergosh said.
Bergosh has allowed $1 million for discretionary local option sales tax (LOST) funds and there is $1.5 million allocated from LOST III monies for the Beulah Fire Station upgrades — for a total project budget of $2.5 million.
He said that’s enough to fund larger bay doors to accommodate a ladder truck; proper kitchen, bathroom, bunkhouse and meeting facilities; and take care of an overall modernization of the dated facility.
“Beulah is a growing area and Beulah’s firefighters and residents deserve the best fire facility and equipment we can get them,” he said.
In advance of the fire station upgrades, Bergosh allocated up to $10,000 in discretionary spending for new twin mattresses for their makeshift bunk room and a new commercial grade washer and dryer to replace 25-year old equipment.
File photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Oil Prices Plummet; AAA Says Florida Gas Prices Could Fall Below $2 This Week
March 9, 2020
Florida gas prices should go even lower this week, potentially sinking below $2 per gallon in some markets, according to AAA. Crude and gasoline futures prices were sent into a tail-spin overnight, hitting lows that haven’t been seen since 2016.
Just two weeks ago, the price of crude traded for more than $53 per barrel. Sunday night, it was around $33/b. Crude prices have been reeling during the past two weeks, as coronavirus concerns have led to lower global demand for jet fuel and gasoline, AAA said.
“At the rate fuel prices are falling on the stock market, Florida drivers could easily begin seeing sub-$2 gasoline this week,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The only potential upward pressure on pump prices is spring maintenance season. If the state average eventually drops below $2 per gallon, it would be the first time in four years. How long this holds or how low prices go will rely on where stock market prices go from here.”
Sunday’s state average of $2.28 per gallon is seven cents per gallon less than a week ago, and the lowest daily average price since February 2019. The state average has fallen 11 cents in the past 11 days. Drivers are currently paying 19 cents per gallon less than this time last year.
The average price gallon Sunday night in Escambia County was $2.26, down about seven cents from a week ago.
Sunday night, the lowest price to be found in North Escambia was $2.20 at two stations in the Cantonment area.
Lose This Horse Near Atmore? The Sheriff’s Office Has It In Custody.
March 9, 2020
The Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office found this horse on the run last week near Atmore.
Deputies and animal control officers were able to safely take the horse into custody. It’s receiving necessary care and remains in the custody of animal control.
To claim ownership of the horse, call the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office at (251) 809-0741.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Roy Hyatt Environmental Center Holds ‘Night of Nature’
March 9, 2020
The annual Roy Hyatt Environmental Century Night of Nature was held Friday night.
Attendees had a chance to meet raptors, visit with reptiles, peer through telescopes, see a planetarium show, take a night hike and more.
The Roy Hyatt Environmental Center is located at 1300 Tobias Road in Cantonment. The facility is owned and operated by the Escambia County School District.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Nearly 2,500 People Vote Early In Escambia County. Here’s How You Can Too.
March 9, 2020
Early voting kicked off Saturday in Escambia County for the presidential preference primary.
There were 2,448 people that cast their ballots early in Escambia County on Saturday and Sunday, according to the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office.
Early voting will continue through Saturday, March 14 at nine locations in Escambia County:
- Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
- Molino Community Center, 6450-A Highway 95A, Molino (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
- Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
- University of West Florida, Building 90, Campus Lane (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
- Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds, 6655 Mobile Highway (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
- Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 B, 9th Avenue (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
- Main Library, 239 Spring Street (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
- Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto Street (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
Early voters cast paper ballots through digital scanners and may choose any one of the nine sites. Each location is also equipped with an ExpressVote ballot marking device for use.
Cantonment Man Facing Drug, Concealed Weapon Charges
March 9, 2020
A Cantonment man is facing drug and concealed weapon charges after law enforcement made contact with him on a dirt path near Perdido Bay.
Adam Joseph Hammac, 28, was charged with carrying a concealed firearm, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (methamphetamine), possession of a marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer and an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy made contact with Hammac after dark on a dirt path between Lillian Highway and Perdido Bay.
Hammac had a semi-automatic handgun in his front waistband and an additional firearm magazine in his front pocket but does not have a concealed carry permit, according to an arrest report. He also had a plastic marijuana pipe and bag of marijuana on his person, and methamphetamine, marijuana, glass pipes and syringes in this vehicle, the report states.
Hammac was released from the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $3,000.
A Chance Of Rain Returns For Tonight, Tuesday
March 9, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Areas of fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Calm wind.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Calm wind.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77.