Woman Charged With DUI Manslaughter For I-110 Wrong Way Crash
September 14, 2023
A Pace woman has been charged with DUI manslaughter in connection with a fatal crash on I-110 last April.
Julia Katelyn Jablonski, 24, was driving her 2017 Toyota Yaris northbound in the southbound lanes of I-110 on April 22, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Carvin Darnell McGruder of Pensacola, Florida was traveling southbound in a 2018 Toyota Camry. Troopers aid Jablonski entered the interstate from Chase Street and collided head-on with the 2018 Toyota Camry driven by
McGruder. McGruder suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.
FHP said Jablonski was identified as the operator of the vehicle traveling the wrong way and later discovered to be under the influence at the time of the crash.
Jablonski surrendered to FHP Wednesday and was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Molino Man Arrested On Drug, Resisting Charges After Traffic Stop
September 14, 2023
A Molino man is facing drug charges after allegedly running from a traffic stop.
Virgil Kenneth Mitchell, 47, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting arrest.
On Monday, an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted a lights and sirens traffic stop on a vehicle that failed to yield to approaching vehicles as it pulled from a convenience store into traffic on Pensacola Boulevard at Kenmore Road. The vehicle came to stop behind the Extended Stay. Mitchell exited the vehicle and ran, leaping over several fences, according to an arrest report.
After a brief chase, Michell was detained in the area of West Pinestead Road and Pensacola Boulevard.
An ECSO K-9 alerted on the vehicle, leading to a search. Deputies reported finding 5.9 grams of amphetamine concealed in a paper towel, 1.5 grams of amphetamine concealed in a $1 bill, and methamphetamine residue in a clear plastic bag and a glass pipe.
Mitchell’s statements to deputies were redacted from the arrest report. He was also cited for failing to yield.
Flomaton Crash Claims Life Of Jay Man
September 14, 2023
A crash Wednesday morning in front of Flomaton High School claimed the life of a Jay man.
The crash happened on Highway 31 just after 9 a.m. when a Dodge Dakota pickup truck driven by 68-year old Raymond McDaniel collided with a semi-truck.
McDaniel retired from the Town of Jay after nearly 20 years of service.
The Flomaton Police Department and troopers from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency are continuing their investigation.
IMPACT 100 Announces Finalists For Eleven $108,364 Grants
September 14, 2023
IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area, a women’s philanthropic organization, announced their 2023 grant finalists Wednesday. Eleven of the 15 nonprofit finalists will each receive a grant of $108,364 at the group’s annual meeting on October 22.
The 15 finalists are:
ARTS, CULTURE & HISTORY
- General Daniel Chappie James Jr. Memorial Foundation — General Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr. Memorial Plaza
- Pensacola Children’s Chorus dba Pensacola Children’s Chorus – STEP BOLDLY: Building Confidence with a Reliable Performance Stage
- The Santa Rosa Band of the Lower Muscogee dba Santa Rosa Creek Band — Traditional Council Roundhouse
EDUCATION
- Santa Rosa County 4-H Association dba Santa Rosa County 4-H — To Make the Best Better: Finish the 4-H Field Education Facility
- The Pensacola State College Foundation – Supporting Excellence and Capacity through Pensacola State College’s Nonprofit Center
- Umbrella Learning Academy Corp. dba Umbrella Learning Academy — ULA Gives Kids a Life
ENVIRONMENT & RECREATION
- Dixon School of Arts & Sciences dba Dixon School of Arts and Science – IMPACT 100 Natural Wonders Park
- Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge dba Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge – Near to Nature: Environment Education “Wild Pursuits” Nature Clubhouse
- Ocean Hour dba Ocean Hour – Improving Sustainability in Our Pensacola Parks
FAMILY
- Children in Crisis – Wheels of Impact
- My Father’s Arrows – Rolling On to a Bigger Vision
- Valerie’s House dba Valerie’s House Pensacola – Build for Valerie’s House Pensacola Permanent Location: The Kitchen Is The Heart of a Home
HEALTH & WELLNESS
- Center for Independent Living of Northwest Florida dba CIL of Northwest Florida – MILES Project (Mobile Independent Living Education and Services-Health and Wellness)
- Health and Hope Clinic dba Health and Hope Clinic – Building Health and Wellness for our Community
- Santa Rosa Kids’ House dba Santa Rosa Kids’ House – Healing: The Experience
This is the 20th year that IMPACT 100 will award grants to local nonprofit organizations. Since its inception, IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area has awarded 142 impactful grants totaling $15,092,020 to nonprofit organizations serving Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties.
Thomas David Kearley
September 14, 2023
Mr. Thomas David Kearley, age 55, passed away at on Sunday, September 10, 2023, at his Flomaton residence.
Mr. Kearley was born in Pensacola, FL and grew up in in Walnut Hill, FL. He was a Captain on a supply boat for the oil industry. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and was of the Baptist faith.
He is survived by his wife, Tammy Kearley of Flomaton; daughter, Taylor Danyelle Kearley; stepsons, Jay Young of Mobile, Khrystopherr (Erica Adams) Wood of Wing, AL, and Dustyn Wood of Flomaton, AL; two brothers, James Stepp of Campobello, SC and Steve (Lisa) Kearley of San Diego, CA; one sister, Marie (George) Paulsen of Pensacola, FL; three grandchildren, Tiffany Flowers, Kinsley Wood, and Audrey Wood.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 15, 2023, at 2:00 P.M. from the chapel of Craver’s Funeral Home with Pastor Joey Johnson officiating. Interment will follow in Poston Cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Friday from 1:00 P.M. until 2:00 P.M. at Craver’s Funeral Home.
Pallbearers: Donny Riddlehoover, Allen Kelly, Khrystopherr Wood, Dustyn Wood, George Paulsen, and Jim Howell.
Low Around 70 Tonight
September 14, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 87.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 88.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 88.
Buxton Debuts, Banfield Homers In 3-2 Wahoos Win
September 14, 2023
The Blue Wahoos’ latest new pitcher shined on Wednesday.
And another team feat was attained.
In his Double-A debut, Ike Buxton set an early tone by throwing four scoreless innings, while allowing just one hit, then Pensacola’s bullpen sealed a 3-2 victory against the Mississippi Braves at Blue Wahoos Stadium that added another season superlative.
It was this team’s 77th win, pushing them into the second-most wins in team history. In addition to that, Will Banfield’s solo home run in the fourth inning – the first run of the game – was the Blue Wahoos’ 162nd homer this season, which is now tied for the sixth-most in modern Southern League history since 1964.
On Wednesday, the team transformed into the Pensacola Pok-Ta-Pok as part of the Copa de la Diversión in Minor League Baseball.
The game began with Buxton in command. He joined the team earlier this week after pitching in 2023 for the Beloit Sky Carp, the Miami Marlins’ High-A affiliate in Beloit, Wisconsin. The 23-year-old right-hander from Sun Valley, Idaho was a 15th round draft selection in 2022 by the Marlins.
He was 6-2 with a 3.01 earned run average before Wednesday’s no-decision. Chandler Jozwiak, another pitcher who began this year in Beloit, followed and got his second win with two hitless innings.
Luarbert Arias and Dylan Bice preserved the win in late relief, with Bice getting his second save.
In the ninth inning, the M-Braves’ Cade Bunnell blasted a one-out Bice pitch out of the ballpark to make it a one-run game. With two outs, Drew Campbell singled and Cody Milligan walked on a 3-2 pitch Bice believed was a strike.
But Bice then responded by getting Luke Waddell to fly out to end the game.
Pensacola got its second run when Banfield came back up in the fifth inning and drove in Nasim Nuñez on a sacrifice fly. Nuñez had walked and advanced to third on Paul McIntosh’s single.
Norel González provided the game-winning RBI with his eighth-inning single to score Bennett Hostetler.
The third game of series with the M-Braves is Thursday, with the Blue Wahoos (77-55) taking on their alternate identity as the Pensacola Mullets and wearing their specialty uniforms on “Mullet Thursday.” There will also be drink specials for those of legal age at various locations on the stadium concourse.
The Blue Wahoos will enter with a 4-6 record in the Mullet uniforms.
The Blue Wahoos’ top pitcher, left-hander Patrick Monteverde (10-4, 2.97 earned run average), will make his final regular-season start Thursday against M-Braves righthander Daniel Martinez (0-2 5.56).
Pregame activities will begin at 6:15 p.m., including ceremonial first pitches and special guest introductions. The official first pitch of the game will be at 6:35 p.m.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Raymond McDaniel
September 14, 2023
Raymond McDaniel, 68, of Jay, FL, passed away on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 in Flomaton, AL. He was born on April 5, 1955 in Niceville, Fl and was a resident of Jay. Raymond was a retired oil field worker and retired from the City of Jay as the Director of Public Works. He was baptized in the First Baptist Church of Inverness, FL and attended the First Baptist Church of Jay. He graduated from Jay High School in 1974 and attended Jefferson Davis Jr. College in Brewton, AL.
He is survived by his parents, James David McDaniel SR. and Georgia Lee McDaniel; a daughter, Jennifer Marie McDaniel; Brother, James David McDaniel JR. ( Doc ) and his wife Brennis and daughter, Audrey Bodiford; his sister, Amanda McDaniel Whiting ( Delbert ); three grandchildren, Kaitlyn ( Ricky ) Cofield, Evan McDaniel, Jacob McDaniel; four great grandchildren, Georgia, Madilyn, Ezra, and Emery.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 11:00 AM in the First Baptist Church of Jay with Dr. George Fredericks officiating assisted by Dr. Eugene Bengston. A private Graveside service will be held at the Magnolia Cemetery in Defuniak Springs, FL
‘Armed And Dangerous’ Suspect Wanted For Burglaries In Walnut Hill, Atmore, Bay Minette
September 13, 2023
Authorities are searching for an “armed and dangerous” suspect in connection with burglaries in Walnut Hill, Atmore and Bay Minette.
Mario Dewayne Mendez. 46, is wanted for a September 5 burglary on Arthur Brown Road in Walnut Hill where a golf cart, tools, camera accessories and other items were stolen, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators believe Mendez is responsible for multiple thefts Monday and Tuesday in Atmore where a pistol and rifle were stolen.
“Various Items from weapons and other property have been stolen,” APD said. “Mendez is presumed to be armed and dangerous due to the items stolen from various properties.”
He is also wanted by the Bay Minette Police Department.
Anyone with information on Mendez’s whereabouts is asked to call 911.
Image page top and first image below from a Walnut Hill burglary courtesy of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Bottom two images and photo inset courtesy Atmre Police Department for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Termites, Rot And Lead Paint Will Likely Cause Century To Replace Historic Community Center
September 13, 2023
In April 2022, Gov. Ron DeSantis awarded $3.255 million to the Town of Century to renovate two community centers.
Now, it appears all but certain that one will be razed and replaced with a new building.
Just under $2 million was designated to renovate the historic Carver Community Center at 7040 West Jefferson Avenue. The former school building was constructed in 1945.
But time and termites have taken an obvious toll on the wood building, which sat empty, neglected and unmaintained for years by the Escambia County School District. The school district has now transferred the title to the Town of Century.
During a community meeting attended by about 50 residents Tuesday evening in Century, architect Ben Townes said the building simply has too much termite damage, too much lead paint and too many structural problems to repair with the available budget. Spending the full budget on renovating the building would likely leave a more structural sound, but incomplete, building that could not be occupied.
The remainder of the grant awarded by DeSantis, about $850,000, was designated for improvements at the Century Community Center (also known as the Ag Building) at the corner of West Highway 4 and Industrial Boulevard. Project consultant Robin Phillips said those funds will likely be diverted to the Carver Community Center due to unanticipated and drastic increases in construction costs.
A new Carver Community Center will pay homage to the existing structure.
An informal poll of the residents attending Tuesday’s meeting showed almost unanimous support for demolishing the current building and constructing a suitable replacement.
For more photos from Tuesday’s meeting, click here.
At least one additional public session is planned to allow residents to have input into the design of a new building.
Tuesday’s meeting was a workshop; the town council could not take a formal vote on the future of the Carver Community Center.
Pictured top: The former Carver Community Center on Jefferson Avenue. Pictured top inset: A preliminary conceptual drawing of a new community center was provided to the town council in May. Pictured bottom inset: Architect Ben Townes and consultant Robin Phillips address residents Tuesday evening. Pictured below: Residents Helen Mincy and Pastor Michael Steward were among those that spoke Tuesday evening during a workshop meeting. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
