Second Escambia County Man Arrested On Charges Related To U.S. Capitol Attack
February 6, 2021
A 25-year old Escambia County man is the second local resident arrested for his alleged role in the U.S. Capitol attack.
Tristan Chandler Stevens was taken into custody Friday for his alleged role in the riot and siege at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement assisted with Stevens’ arrest.
“A month has passed, yet our nation remains shocked at the appalling acts of domestic terrorism that took place at the heart of our American democracy. Our office, in close coordination with all other federal law enforcement agencies, will continue to apply every possible resource to identify, prosecute, and punish anyone who participated in this anarchistic criminality,” said Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Stevens is charged with forcibly assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees, knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building.
Stevens’ case will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
On January 20, Escambia County resident Jesus D. Rivera, 37, was arrested for his alleged participation in the Capitol attack. Click or tap here for more information.
Anyone with information about individuals who incited, promoted, or committed violence of any kind during the siege of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or submit photos or video to fbi.gov/USCapitol.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida continues to work closely with all federal, state and local partners to identify and prosecute any individuals from this district who participated in unlawful activity during the riot and siege at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
More Cold Rain Possible Saturday Night
February 6, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 57. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 63. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before noon, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 70. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 51. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58.
Four Teens Indicted In Escambia County For First Degree Felony Murder
February 6, 2021
Four teens have been indicted for the shooting death of a 61-year old man in Escambia County last month.
The shooting happened on January 22 at the Oakstead Mobile Home Park. Samuel Richard Thomley was killed, another victim was injured.
Jesse Leamos Snowden, 15, Calvin Barnard Williams, Jr., age 17, and Cedric Antonio Young. 17, were each indicted on one count of first degree felony murder with a firearm and one count of attempted first degree felony murder with firearm.
Jabarius Cordell Henderson, 14, was indicted on one count of first degree felony murder with a firearm
All four are being held without bond.
According to an arrest report, the shooting happened during a marijuana deal.
Officials Report Nine Additional COVID-19 Deaths, 215 New Cases In Escambia County
February 6, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
There were nine additional COVID-19 deaths and 215 new cases reported in Escambia County Friday by the Florida Department of Health.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 31,794 (+215)
Non-Florida residents: 3,290
Recovered: 30,754*
Total deaths: 550 (+9)
Long-term care facility deaths : 240 (+7)
Current hospitalizations: 160 (-10)
Number of tests reported last day: 2,552
Percent positive reported last day: 7.3%
Percent positive reported last week: 15.2%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 23,632 (+172)
Cantonment: 2,887 (+21)
Century: 1,124 (+1)
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 438 (+2)
McDavid: 191 (+2)
Bellview: 53 (+1)
Walnut Hill: 49
Perdido Key: 21
Gonzalez: 12
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 15,917 (+133)
Non-Florida residents: 204
Total deaths: 222 (+5)
Long-term care facility deaths: 67 (+1)
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 714*
Number of tests reported last day: 920
Percent positive reported last day: 11.7%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 7,657 (+55)
Navarre: 3,191 (+27)
Gulf Breeze: 2,985 (+37)
Pace: 1,262 (+7)
Jay: 495 (+2)
Bagdad: 31
Florida cases:
Total cases: 1,763,873
Florida residents: 1,731,931
Deaths: 27,457
Hospitalizations: 73,970*
*“Hospitalizations” in the statewide and Santa Rosa County totals is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. Most of these people are longer be hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized. The Escambia County number is current data compiled each day from the local hospitals.
**On cases by location, the city is based upon zip code and is not always received as part of the initial notification. There may be a delay in reporting locations, and locations will not total the daily case increase as a result.
***The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals. Escambia County is reporting an approximate recovery number defined as the total cases prior to last month, minus deaths. In other words, anyone that tested positive more than a month ago is presumed to have recovered by Escambia County.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.
Dorothy Mae Fussell Baggett
February 6, 2021
Jesus himself carried Ms. Dorothy Mae Fussell Baggett, 94, to her heavenly home on Feb. 4, 2021, after a brief illness. Dorothy was born in Evergreen, Alabama to Gaither Fussell and Carrie Keebler Fussell on May 17, 1926. At the age of 17, she met her lifelong love, Travis Solomon Baggett from Castleberry. He was home from a Navy fire controller service job during WWII and just happened to stop in at the diner where she was waitressing. “I saw him walk in the door, and I wanted to ease over to his table,” she used to laugh and tell her grandchildren. That was the start of a lifetime courtship.
The couple married later that year and just celebrated their 77 th year of marriage in November of last year (2020). Sadly, a month later, during a short hospital stay, Travis and Dorothy said their earthly farewells to each other, and Dorothy became a widow. Mawmaw, as her family affectionately called her, always claimed that her life’s work was to raise and love her “husband, her sons, her grandchildren and help as much as she could with her great-grandchildren.” Anyone who knew her, however, knew that “raising a family,” also meant cooking up old-school meals – like fried chicken and ham-hock and rice, or salmon patties and steamed fried potatoes. She knew every favorite dish for each of her children and grandchildren and would prepare them special meals when she knew they would be traveling her way. Her family loved that and loved her tremendously. She was a lifelong home-maker, mother and grandmother, and has earned every accolade for those positions in her family’s eyes.
Living in Atmore since 1965, Dorothy was known locally as “The Cake Lady,” supplying every doctor on her list with a homemade coconut cake or a doublechocolate cake nearly every time she had to go. Sometimes she would make extra cakes to drop off to someone who had “shown her a little bit of Jesus,” as she would explain to Travis, while they were making their rounds in the red truck. Everybody knew how Mawmaw could cook and looked forward to the bounty she would constantly share, which she did even as late as this past Christmas, complete with turkey and dressing and all-from-scratch dumplings. All four of their sons were raised in Atmore. They and almost all of their downline still make this area their home.
One of the family’s favorite memories of Mawmaw is when she got baptized several years ago, and her normally shy and inhibited nature became interrupted when a new person arose from the water, one that spoke boldly of Christ and testified to His greatness and holiness. Later, although her eye sight was fading, and her body had become frail, she remained a voice for goodness and morality through her actions and her speech. She constantly reminded her grandchildren of what it meant to be committed in friendships, relationships, marriages and even in a family, giving specific examples along the way. She would never judge out loud, but she told her grand- daughters that a good judge of a man’s character is how he treated his mother, and if he stood when a woman walked in the room. She had been known to turn the television off of a show, if she thought it had too many “bad words,” even if she were sitting there watching it by herself. “I refuse to let my mind hear that,” she would say. A true Southern Lady, whose modesty and self-respect remained to the end, Mawmaw will be missed.
Dorothy is preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 77 years, Travis Baggett; her son Steve Baggett of Atmore; and daughter-in-law Rita Baggett of Atmore; deceased siblings: Wink, Earl, Eddie, Johnny, Bobby, Billy, Louise, Katherine, Margaret, Betty, and Gail.
She is survived by one sister: Sarah (Lavon) Baggett of Evergreen, AL; her sons: Ronnie (Margaret) Baggett and Donnie Baggett, all of Atmore; Garry (Vicki) Baggett of Bratt, FL; her grandchildren: Stephen Baggett, Corry Baggett and Melissa Baggett of Atmore; Krystal (Charles) Weaver of Dothan; Lexxi Baggett of Bratt, and Alex (Kaylee) Baggett of Louisiana. She is also survived by five great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held at 9 am on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at Petty Funeral Homes of Atmore, with Funeral services following at 10am. Rev. Tim James of Atmore Apostolic Church is officiating. Burial will follow at Buffington Cemetery in Castleberry.
Active pallbearers are Alex Baggett, Corry Baggett, Hunter Kite, Luke Miller, Zack Miller and Bobby Wooten.
James Franklin “Butch” Kirkland Jr.
February 6, 2021
In loving memory of James Franklin “Butch” Kirkland Jr, age 75, of Jay, passed from this life into the Heavenly life with Jesus Christ; who saved his soul in 2006, which he was so thankful for the change this made in his life. He was a member of New Life Fellowship Assembly of God Church. James loved to share his testimony with everyone he met.
James graduated from Jay High School. He worked at Monsanto-Solutia and retired after 28 years of service. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved to raise and train bird dogs. In later years, he enjoyed deer hunting. He will be most remembered for always gardening and riding the tractors.
James was preceded in death by his parents, James Kirkland Sr. and Flara Whitley Kirkland; his brother, Michael Kirkland; and his brothers- in-law, Aubrey Johnson and Bobby White.
James is survived by his spouse of 47 years, Julia “Judy”; sons, Duaine (Tammy) Kirkland, Ronnie (Sheryl) Kirkland, Chad (Corissa) Diamond; his daughter, Cindy (Ken) Blair; grandchildren, Hunter Kirkland, Kaylen (Aaron) Cabiness, Marisa (Shai) Jackson, Colby (Kendra) Diamond, and Cade Diamond; his brother, Jerry (Becky) Kirkland of Walnut Hill; his sisters, Paula (Billy) of Chumuckla, Florida, Betty Johnson of Kentucky, and Barbara White of Pace, Florida; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends, Henry Mullins, Steve Andrew who took care of his dogs, David Jernigan and Ricky Butler.
Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, February 8, 2021, at Lewis Funeral Home, Pace Chapel, with Pastor Lavon Caraway officiating. Burial will follow services in Cora Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Hunter Kirkland, Colby Diamond, Cade Diamond, Shai Jackson, Aaron Cabiness and Rich Diamond.
Visitation will be held 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., prior to the services.
Escambia Zoning Change Allows Some Homes On An Acre Or More To Be Sold Away From Farmland
February 5, 2021
The Escambia County Commission voted Thursday night to amend zoning to allow homes to be severed away from larger agricultural parcels and sold, if certain conditions are met.
Agricultural zoning currently allows one dwelling unit per 20 acres. The new zoning amendment allows the sale of residential structures that predate the agricultural zoning designation to remain conforming uses as long as they are sold on a parcel that is at least one acre in size.
“This action doesn’t allow for increased density by what we are doing,” Barry said. “The home would be severed out of the parent parcel. The remaining orphaned parcel doesn’t have an entitlement for a home.”
For example, a farmer might purchase a 20 acre parcel that contains a home. The farmer would be allowed to sell the home on a one acre parcel. Another home could never be constructed on the remaining 19 acres, but that acreage would remain zoned for farming, including timber.
Barry said that when a farmer buys a large tract of property in agriculture areas, there’s often an older home on it. The farmer often has no intended use for the structure. Previously, that forced them to sever out 20 acres to have a conforming use in order to sell the house.
With the zoning change, they can now sell the home with an acre or more and retain the remainder of the land for farming.
“This has a possibility of creating a better protection for the agriculture nature of the north (part of the county) than just about anything we’ve ever seen,” Commissioner Doug Underhill said.
Pictured: The sun sets over a North Escambia cornfield. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
ECSO Seeks Two That Charged Thousands On Credit Cards Stolen From Business
February 5, 2021
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for two suspects that allegedly took credit cards from a business.
Investigators said the pictured suspects used stolen credit cards to purchase thousands of dollars in gift cards from a local store on January 21.
The stolen credit cards were taken from an employee at the Farm and Nursery Mart located on Pine Forest Road. The store said the wallet was stolen from inside the manager’s office, and the suspects spent about $13,000.
She was alerted to the theft when her bank called to say someone was using her cards at the Walmart on Pensacola Boulevard.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Rainy Pattern Through Saturday
February 5, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Showers likely, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. East wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. South wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53.
Flomaton’s Jackson Dullard Signs With Troy University Football
February 5, 2021
Flomaton’s Jackson Dullard signed a letter of intent Thursday to play football at Troy University this fall.
Dullard was a member of Flomaton’s 2018 state championship team, playing offensive and defensive line that year before transitioning to fullback his junior and senior years earning all state honors. He will continue at Troy as a fullback.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
