Three Arrested, One Wanted For Stealing Catalytic Converters
February 9, 2022
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has arrested three people suspected of stealing catalytic converters, and they are searching for a fourth suspect.
The catalytic converter thefts took place in August and September of 2021 at multiple locations across the county including the 1300 block of Dexter Avenue, the 11300 block of Lillian Highway, and the 6800 block of Pine Forest Road.
Westley David Dyal was charged with grand theft and burglary of an unoccupied conveyance. Gordon Woodfin Vining and Joseph Allen Sheets were both charged with burglary of an unoccupied structure, burglary of a vehicle, grand theft, and criminal mischief.
ECSO investigators are still looking for Dawn Nicole Joubert. She is wanted for burglary of an unoccupied structure, grand theft, and criminal mischief. If you have any information about Joubert’s whereabouts, call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Fire Damages Home Near State Line
February 9, 2022
Fire damaged a home just east of Flomaton Tuesday night.
The fire was reported at 6:44 p.m. in the 1900 block of Welka Road, just north of the state line. Flomaton Police Chief Charles Thompson was the first to arrive on scene, advising that there was smoke visible from the room.
Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton said firefighters arrived on scene to find a bedroom on fire. It took about 20 minutes to get the fire under control.
There were no injuries reported.
The Flomaton, Friendship, Lambeth, McCall, Pineview and Barnett Crossroads fire departments, the Century Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue, D.W. McMillan EMS and the Flomaton Police Department responded.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle School Names Students Of The Month
February 9, 2022
Ransom Middle School has named their Students of the Month for January. They are Kelly Wong and Maliek North. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cold, Upper 30s Tonight
February 9, 2022
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 38. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 66. West wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 70. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the morning.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44. South wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 68. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. West wind 5 to 15 mph becoming north after midnight.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 51. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 30. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 58.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 33.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 63.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 68.
Molino Man Charged With Christmas Day Arson Of Mobile Home
February 8, 2022
A Molino man has now been charged with Christmas Day arson of a mobile home he owned with his estranged wife.
Following a state investigation, 51-year old Albert Shawn Fillingim was charged Friday with felony second degree arson and felony criminal mischief with property damage over $3,000.
Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the mobile home fire about 4:30 p.m. on December 25 . The wife arrived at the fire scene and was heard by a firefighter as she accused Fillingim of “finally following through with his threats to burn the home down”, according to an arrest report.
The Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson and Explosives (BFAEI) investigated and now says Fillingim was responsible for setting the blaze.
When the fire was extinguished, the remains of an electric heater were found near the foot of a bed, but it was eliminated as the cause of the fire. Investigators determined the fire started in the bedroom, and no other accidental sources of ignition were found. It was determined by the BFAEI that the fire was deliberately set.
Fillingim’s statements to investigators were redacted from the report.
The fire caused about $25,000 in damage to the home and contents.
The Molino, McDavid, Walnut Hill, Ensley, Ferry Pass and Bellview stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded. There were no injuries.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggie Cheerleaders Honored For State Championship Win
February 8, 2022
The Tate High School cheerleaders were recognized at the school after winning the 2022 FHSAA Small Varsity competitive cheerleading championship.
The state champ cheerleaders were honored last Thursday night at a basketball game where the Aggies beat Milton and on Friday a pep rally in their honor. During the pep rally, the varsity cheerleaders were led into the gym by the Showband of the South through a spirit tunnel of other athletic teams, including baseball, softball, basketball and the junior varsity cheerleaders.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Members of the state championship team, coached by Morgan White, are:
- McKenzie Alfred
- Brooke Alvare
- Kyndell Ammons
- Kaylenia Bailey
- Landry Bellard
- Lanie Brown
- Jaiden Bryant
- Taylee Edwards
- Makayla Hartley
- Alexis Hudson
- Erin Johnson
- Ryleigh Maxwell
- Paige McKinney
- Lainey Patrick
- Emma Romero
- Alyssa Roye
Johnson, Romero and Ammons also won a state championship with Coach White during their freshman year in 2019.
The hard work and dedication of the team were highlighted at both the basketball game and pep rally.
Tryouts for the team were held last May, with practices held multiple times a week in the summer and daily once school started. In addition to cheering for football and basketball games, they hosted several Lil Aggie Camps and volunteered in the community throughout the year.
Their competitive season began in November at the Aggie Cheer Classic where they earned first place in game day, first place in traditional and grand champions. In December at the UCA Nationals qualifier in Tampa. the team earned first place out of 16 teams and a bid to the UCA Nationals.
At the Chipley Tiger Cheer Challenge, they won place game day, first place traditional, best choreography, best stunts, and grand champions of the competition, qualifying the team for regionals.
At regionals, the Aggies scored high enough to skip semi finals and proceed straight to finals at the FHSAA state competition.
Competing against the 17 top teams from across Florida, the Tate High School varsity cheerleaders brought home the state title.
The Tate varsity state champions and the junior varsity team will now compete in the UCA Nationals in Orlando.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Man Charged With Stealing Motorcycle From Molino Store
February 8, 2022
A Century man has been charged with stealing a motorcycle from the Molino Tom Thumb.
David Allen Cormany, 55, was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that his 2021 Harley-Davidson motorcycle broke down at the Tom Thumb at Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino. He said he locked the forks, left it in gear and took the key.
A deputy immediately recognized Cormany on surveillance video. Cormany and an unidentified man allegedly picked up and loaded the motorcycle on a utility trailer behind Cormany’s Jeep, according to an arrest report. The deputy had seen Cormany driving a jeep of the same color pulling a utility trailer about a week before the incident.
Cormany was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
The arrest report does not state if the motorcycle was recovered.
Over 700 Student Works In 68th Annual Youth Art Focus; Winners Named
February 8, 2022
For 68 years, the Pensacola Museum of Art, in partnership with the Escambia County School System, has presented the Youth Art Focus exhibition, highlighting the best work from art students and educators from Escambia County Schools.
The Youth Art Focus, a partnership of the Pensacola Museum of Art and the Escambia County School District, has highlighted the best work from art students and educators for over 68 years.2022
Since its first year in 1954, Youth Art Focus has created an opportunity to expose students to the world of fine art in a professional museum environment, while giving the public a chance to experience and appreciate the accomplishments of Escambia County’s fine art education programs.
There are over 700 works in the exhibition each year. Both middle and high school student works are juried, and winners are selected for first, second and third in five different media categories, as well as a best in show, and outstanding artistic achievement. Educator works are also juried and winners are selected for first, second and third, as well as best in show.
This year’s winners are as follows:
Best in Show: Mariah Richburg | “Cortes” | Pensacola High
High School Winners:
Painting:
- 3rd: Makayla Amante | “Self Portrait” | Escambia High
- 2nd: Haleigh Johnson | “Lilith” | Escambia High
- 1st: Roman Bassett | “Sunset at the Beach” | Pensacola High
Drawing:
- 3rd: Alex Southard | “Floating through the Smoke” | West Florida High
- 2nd: Emilee Norris | “Classy” | JM Tate High
- 1st: Andrew Enkey | “Concrete Feathers” | West Florida High
Photography / Digital Arts:
- 3rd: Lana Carter | “Waterfall” | Pensacola High
- 2nd: Kiromi Martes | “California Vibes” | Pensacola High
- 1st: Kaitlyn Kuehmeier | “Reflected Pool” | JM Tate High
3-Dimensional Works:
- 3rd: Alex Szymansri | “Red” | JM Tate High
- 2nd: Joshua Scott | “Mood Swings” | JM Tate High
- 1st: Selma Milan | “Bozo Box” | Escambia High
2-Dimensional Works (Printmaking, Mixed Media, etc.)
- 3rd: Chloe Babin | “Kaleidoscope of Music” | West Florida High
- 2nd: Mykayla Derouin | “Clementine” | JM Tate High
- 1st: Sarah McCain | “Bandaids” | BT Washington High
Outstanding Artistic Achievement:
- Ashley Copp | “Headspace” | Pine Forest High
- Bella Minshew | “Up” | BT Washington High
Middle School Winners:
Painting:
- 3rd: Maci Glenn-Moore | “First Light“ | Workman Middle
- 2nd: Charlee Delacruz | “Winter is Coming” | Beulah Middle
- 1st: Madison Hatcher | “Writer’s Block” | Beulah Middle
Drawing:
- 3rd: James Tutol | “Grimace” | Jim C. Bailey Middle
- 2nd: Han Gia Nyugen | “J-HOPE” | Beulah Middle
- 1st: Chloe Mandocdoc | “Day of the Dead” | Bellview Middle
Photography / Digital Arts:
- 3rd: Kaitlyn Graves | “Stepping Out” | Jim C. Bailey Middle
- 2nd: Isabella Carnes | “Sidewalk Scenes” | Beulah Middle
- 1st: Trista Peaden | “Windows” | Ransom Middle
3-Dimensional Works:
- 3rd: Elizabeth Lawyer | “Dog” | Bailey Middle
- 2nd: Donta’ Hall | “Neon City” | Bellview Middle
- 1st: Parker Mims | “Dinosaur Egg” | Ransom Middle
2-Dimensional Works (Printmaking, Mixed Media, etc.)
- 3rd: Chloe Loughridge | “Untitled” | Ferry Pass Middle
- 2nd: Aubrey Jones | “Egyptian Royalty” | Bellview Middle
- 1st: Karma Leonard | “Wave Runner” | Bellview Middle
Outstanding Artistic Achievement:
- Jaymes Lingenfelter | “Poinsettia” | Hope Horizon
- Steven Schwartz | “Chilly Penguin” | Westgate
Educator Winners:
Best in Show: Winston Foster | “Eastern Star” | Beulah Middle
- 3rd: Megan Brees | “Untitled” | Montclair Elementary
- 2nd: Matthew Brabham | “Florida Man” | Molino Park Elementary
- 1st: Cat Roberts | “The Roberts Girls: Pineapple Magnolia & Lilly” | Pine Forest High
Honorable Mention:
- Rebecca Burt | “Kristen’s” | McArthur Elementary
This year’s exhibit is on display at the Pensacola Museum of Art at 407 South Jefferson Street in Pensacola through February 27.
Photos courtesy Pensacola Museum of Art of NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sunshine And A Slow Warming Trend For The Rest Of The Week
February 8, 2022
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 58. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 33. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 62. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. Calm wind.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 67. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 66.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 55.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 60.
ECSO Warns About Arrest Warrant Scam Calls
February 8, 2022
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is once again warning the public about another warrant scam.
The department said they recently learned of an incident in which a scammer called a victim and claimed to be a member of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The phone number had been spoofed, or altered, so that it appeared on the recipient’s caller ID to have originated from the ECSO Administration Building.
The scammer claimed the victim had previously been served a subpoena to settle a debt, but failed to appear. The scammer told the victim this had resulted in a warrant, and they needed to send a large amount of money to avoid an arrest.
The sheriff’s office wants you to call them at (850) 436-9620 and report calls like this. Do not send any money or provide your personal or financial information.
Other tips:
- Always be suspicious of any threatening calls claiming to be from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
- Always be suspicious when asked to send an electronic payment, “Green Dot” card payment, or wire transfer.
- Trust your instinct. If you feel that something “just isn’t right”, call your local law enforcement agency and report it.
“It is much easier to prevent fraud in the first place than to recover your money after the fact,” ECSO said.