Facing A Navy Captain: Northview NJROTC Cadets Undergo Inspection (With Gallery)
February 13, 2020
Northview High School’s NJROTC Annual Inspection was held Tuesday at the school, with cadets undergoing face to face scrutiny with Navy captain.
The inspection was conducted by Captain Bryant Hepstall, Executive Officer, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT) located at NAS Pensacola. One by one, Captain Hepstall went face to face with each cadet, asking them questions about their NJROTC experience and conducting a complete inspection of their uniform.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The day’s events began with the personnel inspection, drill demonstration and a pass-in-review in the school gym. The captain also conducted a financial record review, briefings, administrative inspections, supply inspections and more.
Several cadets were promoted and received awards:
PROMOTIONS
To Chief Petty Officer:
Cadet John Bashore
Cadet Ethan Kilburn
Cadet Dallon Rackard
Cadet Skylar Wise
To Petty Officer Third Class:
Cadet Drake Driskell
Cadet Dejanique Lowery
To Seaman:
Cadet Erich Amerson
Cadet Ryan Andrews
Cadet Ruth Mobley
Cadet Anthoni Weaver
To Seaman Apprentice:
Cadet Noah Fussner
EXEMPLARY APPEARANCE AWARDS
Cadet Keaton Brown
Cadet John Bashore
Cadet Kohle Harigel
Cadet Ryan Andrews
Cadet Drake Driskell
Cadet Erich Amerson
NS1 KNOCKOUT DRILL WINNERS
1st Place-Cadet Noah Fussner
2nd Place- Cadet Drake Driskell
3rd Place-Cadet Dakota Giddeon
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys 80-Year Old Man’s Camper At Lake Stone, The Second Time In Five Weeks
February 12, 2020
For the second time in just over five weeks, fire destroyed an 80-year old man’s camper at Lake Stone in Century.
The recreational vehicle fire was reported shortly before 3 a.m. Wednesday. Victim Neal Koe said he woke up to find the camper on fire; he was able to escape without injury.
The fire also heavily damaged his pickup truck.
About 3:45 a.m. on January 4, fire destroyed Koe’s camper at Lake Stone. That fire was blamed on a heater, but Koe said he was not using a heater Wednesday.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office was called.
After losing the first camper to fire, Koe moved the used RV that burned Wednesday morning into the county-owned park about three weeks ago. He considered Lake Stone as his primary residence.
The Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded.
Previous stories:
Fire Destroys Travel Trailer At Lake Stone Campground, Leaving Man Without A Home
80-Year Old Man Working To Recover From Lake Stone Camper Fire. Here’s How You Can Help.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Charged As Accomplice In Armed Robbery Of Piggly Wiggly; ECSO Says Pair Split The Cash
February 12, 2020
An Atmore man is now charged as an accomplice in the December armed robbery of the Piggly Wiggly in Davisville, just south of the Alabama-Florida state line.
Johnny Cecil Patterson, 46, was booked into the Escambia County Jail this week on charges of first degree accessory after the fact robbery with a firearm and grand theft.
Former Piggly Wiggly employee Maurice Montraye Ervin, 26, is was arrested in December for robbery with a firearm and first degree felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He is also charged with felony grand theft for an earlier incident caught on camera.
On December 4, 2019, Ervin called Patterson and asked for a ride to the Piggly Wiggly at their 10 p.m. closing time, according to an arrest report.. Patterson picked Ervin up and dropped him off at the shopping center on Highway 97.
Ervin allegedly entered the Piggly Wiggly at 9:51 p.m., just before the store closed. He was armed with a small silver and black semi-automatic handgun, according to an arrest report. He approached the clerk and pointed the gun at a female employee as he ordered her not to move or talk. He took $6,686.66 from the safe before fleeing the store, according to investigators. The victim told deputies that she recognized the voice of the robber as Ervin, but she did not see his face because he was wearing a mask.
Patterson picked Ervin up immediately after the robbery and drove to Ervin’s residence on West Sunset Drive in Atmore, about six miles away, the report states. Patterson also provided Ervin with Ziploc bags to use when dividing the money. Investigators don’t know the amounts of the division.
In calls monitored at the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton, Ervin and Patterson had several conversations about picking up the money from a hidden location and using it to put on Ervin’s personal account at the jail. Investigators said that in those conversations, Ervin describes in detail the location of the hidden money and directions Patterson on what to do with it.
When interviewed by deputies, Patterson completed a sworn written statement that he was called by Patterson, and he did drop him off and pick him up at the Piggly Wiggly. He said he had no conversation at all with Ervin in the vehicle, and he refused to get the hidden money when Ervin called from the jail.
Shortly after the robbery, Ervin was located in the 300 block of Sunset Drive in Atmore and taken into custody by Atmore Police on an outstanding failure to appear warrant. Atmore Police found a firearm matching the exact description of the one used in the robbery inside the 12-foot travel trailer in which Ervin was living. Five days after the robbery, his driver’s license was found in a ditch behind the Piggly Wiggly.
Ervin was also charged with grand theft for allegedly taking $941.91 from the Piggly Wiggly on October 29. Erwin was an employee at the time he was seen on video taking the cash from store’s office, according to an arrest report.
Patterson remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond due to an outstanding failure to appear warrant, while Ervin is being held on a $130,000 bond.
Puppy Rescued From Storm Drain By Escambia Firefighters
February 12, 2020
Escambia Fire Rescue rescued a puppy from a storm drain Tuesday morning.
The dachshund puppy named Sly was trapped in the drain near his home on Hampton Road, not far from Highway 29 and Diamond Dairy Road. Firefighters from the Ensley and Osceola stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and ECFR Special Operations took part in the confined space rescue with help from the Escambia County Road Department.
When they arrive on scene, they could hear the puppy, but could not see him. After the lid of the storm drain was lifted, a firefighter entered to remove Sly.
The puppy is doing just fine and his been happily reunited with his family.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Make A Valentine Card For Local Heroes Thursday At The Century Library
February 12, 2020
A special program to honor local heroes will be held Thursday evening at the Century Branch Library.
Attendees will create giant Valentine cards for local heroes in the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS.
The program begins at 6 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Weather Aware: Severe Storms Possible Wednesday Night
February 12, 2020
There is small chance of severe storms for the North Escambia area Wednesday evening into late Wednesday night.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Patchy fog. Low around 60. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before noon, then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 55 by 5pm. West wind around 10 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 40. North wind around 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 57. North wind around 10 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 35. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 62. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. East wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Washington’s Birthday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 76.
Vote By Mail Ballots Are On Their Way In Escambia County
February 12, 2020
The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office Tuesday delivered more than 24,000 vote-by-mail ballots to the post office for the March 17 Presidential Preference Primary election. This is in addition to the more than 3,000 ballots sent to military and overseas voters earlier this month.
Voters who have requested to vote-by-mail should begin receiving their blue and white ballot packages by the end of the week. The return envelope will be either green (civilian) or brown (military/overseas). Voted ballots must be received in the Supervisor of Elections Office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day, March 17 and require 55-cents first class postage if returned by mail. The Postal Service recommends voters mail ballots at least one week before the due date. Ballots may also be returned by hand to the Supervisor of Elections Office or to an early voting site during early voting hours.
Voters will also notice that their envelope, ballot and balloting materials are bilingual (English and Spanish) for the first time.
The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot for the primary election is 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 7. To request a vote-by-mail ballot or track the status of your ballot, visit EscambiaVotes.com and click Vote by Mail, or contact the Supervisor of Elections Office at (850) 595-3900.
As a reminder, Florida holds closed primary elections. The March 17 Presidential Preference Primary is open only to registered Democrats and Republicans. Voters registered without party affiliation (NPA) or in a minor political party are ineligible and will not receive a ballot. The deadline to register to vote or to change party affiliation is Tuesday, February 18/
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Needs Poll Deputies At $120 A Day. Apply Thursday In Century.
February 12, 2020
Want to serve and make some extra cash on election days this year?
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is currently recruiting poll deputies for the upcoming March 17, 2020 Presidential Preference Primary. It pays $120 a day for election day and traning.
Poll deputies:
- Maintain order outside the polling place
- Assist other workers in preparing polling place on Election Day
- Posts signs and materials outside and near the entrance of polling location
Apply in person Thursday between noon and 4 p.m. at the Century Branch Library, or contact Lisa Parrish at (850) 436-9735.
Youth Basketball: Century Gets Several Wins Over Atmore
February 12, 2020
Here are recent youth basketball scores:
Youth Basketball 8-10 years old
- Century Heat 15, Atmore Jazz 12
- Century Magic 33 Atmore Pacers 5
- Century Heat 15, Atmore Jazz 12
- Century Magic 33, Atmore Pacers 5
Youth Basketball 5-7 years old
- Century Heat 32, Atmore Pelicans 12
Atmore Police Name Officer, Sergeant Of The Month
February 12, 2020
The Atmore Police Department has named their sergeant and officer of the month.
The Atmore Police Department holds monthly award recognition to honor the numerous members of the department for their professionalism and dedication. These awards, presented by Lt. Ken Sessions, are given for providing outstanding police services to the citizens of Atmore with the highest order of integrity and dependability and in a manner that exemplifies the goals of the department.
Sgt. Thaihee Staples was being honored as Sergeant of the Month for January.. Officer Gordon Brooks was named Officer of the Month for January.