Cantonment Rotary Club Swears In New Officers
July 7, 2022
Cantonment Rotary recently held a Change of Command ceremony. The new club president is Tony Lee (pictured bottom) and Dustin Vaughn was pinned as president elect (pictured first below). The new officers and board members were sworn in (pictured above) by Cantonment Rotary member Deb Held, who is also the district area governor. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Six Suspects Arrested In Stolen Vehicle, Tag Case
July 7, 2022
The Escambia County Sheriff Office arrested six suspects during a case involving five stolen vehicles and multiple vehicle tags.
The stolen vehicles recovered were a 2018 Ford F150, a 2004 Jeep Wrangler, a 2007 Pontiac G6, a 2003 Chevrolet 1500, and a 2005 Toyota Camry.
The following suspects were arrested:
- Robert Dalton Goodwin, 22 of Pensacola — dealing in stolen property. Jailed, $10,000 bond.
- Frankie Michelle Schultz, 46 of Pensacola — dealing in stolen property. Jailed, $10,000 bond.
- Alyssa Marie Blackburn, 22 of Pensacola — for petit theft, dealing in stolen property, and fraud uttering. Released, $2,000 bond.
- Jesse Allen Geoghahan, 26 of Cantonment — grand theft of a motor vehicle. Released $2,500 bond.
- Gavin Kyle McCurley, 28 of Pensacola — grand theft of a motor vehicle, criminal mischief, and grand theft. Jailed, $10,500 bond.
- Jeb Stuart Pickford, 42 of Cantonment — failure to appear. Released, $250 bond.
M-Braves Open Series With 5-1 Win Over The Blue Wahoos
July 7, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos were kept quiet at the plate on Wednesday, falling 5-1 to the Mississippi Braves in their series opener.
A.J. Ladwig (L, 2-3) turned in a quality start, but took the loss as the Pensacola offense mustered only three hits in a dominant pitching effort from Jared Shuster (W, 5-7) and the Mississippi staff.
The Braves jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first, as C.J. Alexander hit a hanging slider into the right field bullpen for his 15th home run of the year. After a Yariel Gonzalez double in the second, Hendrik Clementina brought him home with a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 2-0.
Shuster completed 6.0 shutout innings, allowing only three hits and striking out four. Ladwig completed 6.0 frames as well, earning a quality start, but the early damage was too much to overcome.
Clementina added a solo homer in the seventh against new Pensacola reliever Sean Reynolds, and the Braves tacked on a pair of runs in the eighth with RBI singles from Cade Bunnell and Andrew Moritz against Eli Villalobos.
Ray-Patrick Didder hit a solo homer in the ninth to break up the shutout bid, but Justin Maese got J.D. Orr to fly out with the bases loaded to snuff out Pensacola’s final attempt at a rally and end the game.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the M-Braves with a doubleheader on Thursday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Update: Boil Water Notice Rescinded For Cottage Hill Water Works Customers On Williams Ditch Road
July 7, 2022
UPDATE: This boil water notice was rescinded on July 7 follow the satisfactory completion of a bacteriological survey showing that the water is safe to drink.
Due to a water main break, Cottage Hill Water Works issued a precautionary boil water notice late Sunday night for Williams Ditch Road between Highway 95A and Gainey Lane.
Cottage Hill Water Works advises residents of the area that all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient, or as an alternative bottled water may be used.
This precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink.
If you have any questions call (850) 968-5485.
FWC done thru JUNE 16 report
July 6, 2022
Childers Lawsuit Dismissed In Fight Over Escambia Retirement Plan
July 6, 2022
A judge has ruled in favor of Escambia County in a countersuit by Escambia County Clerk Pam Childers over a retirement plan involving commissioners that does not cost the taxpayers anything.
Childers and the Escambia County Commission are battling over whether the county’s 401(a) annuity plan is in fact legal for elected officials and senior management. In late July 2021, Childers asserted that the state has told her that the county’s 401(a) annuity plan is illegal.
Okaloosa County Circuit Court Judge William Stone found that Childers’ suit is “almost wholly duplicative” of the lawsuit filed first by the BOCC against the clerk.
Childers claimed that as auditor of county funds, she is required by law to refuse to process an unlawful payment. She stopped making retirement plan payments for Commissioners Steven Barry, Robert Bender and Lumon May in January 2022 and sought an order requiring the commissioners to return previous payments.
The county, however, has asserted the plan is legal and Childers must disburse funds as lawfully directed.
The ruling dismissing Childers’ lawsuit means Escambia County’s lawsuit will move forward in ultimately deciding the issue.
“In the pleadings and arguments regarding this case the parties have spent a lot of time addressing personal and political disagreements, which from this Court’s disimpassioned analysis, are not germane to resolving the legal issues presented in this case,” Stone wrote. “At the heart of this controversy is the legal question of whether the County’s local retirement plan is unlawful as to elected officials.”
401(a) Annuity Program
It’s called a 401(a) annuity program, and under state statute was offered only to senior management service employees and commissioners that opt out of the Florida Retirement System (FRS). It’s available statewide, not just in Escambia County.
The plan does not cost Escambia County taxpayers anything extra when contributions are made in a timely fashion; the employee contributions are exactly the same whether or not the money goes into FRS or the annuity program. FRS has significant administrative overhead and fund liability that is funded from employee contributions. The 401(a) annuity plan participant costs are lower, so participants can earn significantly more retirement dollars.
Escambia County has offered a 401(a) annuity program to senior management employees and elected officials since 1997.
Teen Accidently Shot Himself At Dogwood Park Home, ECSO Says
July 6, 2022
A 17-year accidently shot himself in the leg early Wednesday morning in Dogwood Park, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The teen was at a party on Chaudron Road when he attempted to remove a gun from his pants pocket and it discharged, according to ECSO Sgt. Melony Peterson.
Someone drove the teen north on Highway 97 to the Walnut Hill Fire Station where an ambulance was stationed about 4:45 a.m.. He was transported by Escambia County EMS to a Pensacola hospital. He is expected to make a full recovery.
Peterson said it was unclear why the teen had the gun, but no disturbance was reported at the Chaudron Road home.
NorthhEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Century Extends Rent-Free Ride In Town Building For Startup Transportation Company
July 6, 2022
A startup transportation company will continue their rent-free ride in a building owned by the Town of Century for another three months.
In late April, the council approved a zero dollar, three month lease for space in the Century Business Center with Metro Rapid Transport and their for profit non-emergency medical and other transportation service business. That lease is set to expire July 20.
Tuesday night, the council voted 5-0 to extend the agreement by three months to October 20. The town will revisit the lease before it ends and consider options going forward; there is not an automatic renewal or extension. During their use of the town’s building, Metro Rapid is responsible for utility costs.
Metro Rapid officials requested the additional three months as they continue to work toward a positive cash flow.
Town Attorney Matt Dannheisser stated in an email before the first lease was signed that he was instructed to refrain from including any requirement that the principal owners of Metro Rapid personally guarantee the rent and other obligations. The town has not conducted any due diligence into the company’s owners.
“Please recognize that because Metro Rapid is a new company (having been formed in Dec. 2021), it may have little assets. Correspondingly, in the event of breach of any terms of the lease (including, for example, breach of insurance or indemnification requirements of Sections 11 and 12), the Town may have difficulty effectively enforcing its rights under the lease,” Dannheisser warned.
Under the lease, Metro Rapid accepted the premises “as is” with the town having no responsibility for any repairs or alterations.
Metro Rapid also has nonexclusive right to use the paved parking surfaces and driveway. The lease also allows the company to use a portion of the property to the east of the Century Business Center as a bus parking area, but the buses and other vehicles are not allowed at the Century Business Center at any time. Their use is limited to overnight and temporary parking of less than 12 hours. They are not allowed to make any repairs or service the vehicles on the property.
Pictured: Metro Rapid Transportation officials address the Century Town Council Tuesday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Bank Robbery Suspect Arrested In Santa Rosa County
July 6, 2022
The man accused of robbing a bank in Pensacola on Tuesday was arrested early Wednesday morning in Santa Rosa County.
Robert Gentry Rhodes, 57, was initially charged with vehicle theft, drug possession and smuggle contraband and booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail.
Pensacola Police said Rhodes robbed the Truist Bank across from Walmart on Creighton Road.
After the robbery, police said he may have been driving a stolen 1985 Mercedes 300D with Florida tag IP9831 (pictured below). The stolen vehicle has been recovered.
No other details have been released.
Chance Of Mostly Afternoon Showers For Wednesday
July 6, 2022
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Sunny, with a high near 91. West wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Heat index values as high as 105. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Tuesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.