Escambia County Armed Fentanyl Trafficker Gets 35 Years
July 25, 2023
An Escambia armed fentanyl trafficker has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison on fentanyl charges
Marcus D. Flintroy, 32, was found guilty by a federal jury on two counts of distribution of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
“Hundreds of individuals are killed every day in communities throughout our country due to thedistribution of fentanyl,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “Each of these deaths is a tragedy, robbingindividuals of their promise and rippling families left behind with unimaginable grief. Weremain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to identify and aggressivelyprosecute those who distribute these addictive, controlled substances. This sentence erves as asignificant deterrent to drug traffickers and demonstrates our resolve to hold them accountable.”
Between December 8, 2022, and January 5, 2023, Flintroy distributed and possessed with intent to distribute approximately 200 grams of fentanyl in Escambia County, according to prosecutors.
The evidence against Flintroy culminated with a traffic stop conducted by law enforcement, during which Flintroy tried to evade the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit by ramming his vehicle into multiple undercover law enforcement vehicles near Lowes and Home Depot on Nine Mile Road.
Flintroy then ran on foot when his vehicle became disabled, but he was caught by law enforcement officers. In his vehicle, law enforcement located approximately 100 grams of fentanyl, numerous items of drug paraphernalia, a loaded assault rifle, a loaded pistol, and over 180 rounds of ammunition.
Flintroy has prior state felony convictions for offenses ranging from fleeing and eluding law enforcement, aggravated assault with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, grand theft auto, and sell, manufacture, deliver, or possess with intent to sell, manufacture, or deliver a controlled substance. Flintroy had just been released from state prison in late 2021 before engaging in the new federal offenses.
This case resulted from a joint investigation by the DEA, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol, Pensacola Police Department, and ATF.
Sunny And Dry Weather Continues For Tuesday, High Around 95
July 25, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 95. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 93. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 94. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west after midnight.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 95.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 76.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.
8U Panhandle Dream Takes Second In USSSA Road To Beach Tourney
July 25, 2023
The 8U Panhandle Dream took second place in the USSSA Road to the Beach Championship in Fort Walton Beach as a Class C travel team. They finished the season ranked No. 1 in the state in the USSSA power rankings. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
7-Story Office, Apartment Tower Proposed For Highway 297A Just Off Pine Forest Road
July 24, 2023
An investment company is proposing a seven-story tower with professional offices and apartments near the intersection of Highway 297A and Pine Forest Road.
Goeller Investments of Pensacola has submitted plans to construct the 8,000 square foot building on 1.89 acres at 4101 Highway 297, just off Pine Forest Road.
According to those plans, the mixed used building would have 6,000 square feet of professional offices on the lowest level, above parking, with a mix of 32 one, two and three bedroom apartments above in the seven-story building reaching 98 feet high. The building footprint is proposed at about 66 feet by 120 feet.
An initial application has been submitted to the Escambia County Development Review Committee for a pre-application meeting on Wednesday, July 26 at 1 p.m. at the Escambia County Central Complex Building at 3363 West Park Place.
NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
Free Lunch Still Available For Youth At Libraries In Escambia County
July 24, 2023
Free meals for youth continue to be available five days a week at West Florida Public Libraries branches until the first day of school.
In conjunction with Feeding the Gulf Coast, the meals are served as follows:
Monday-Friday, Noon – 1 p.m.
- Bellview Library
- Molino Library
- Pensacola Library
- Southwest Library
- Tryon Library
- Westside Library
Tuesday-Saturday, Noon – 1 p.m.
- Century Library
The meals, which must be consumed at the library, are for children 18-year old and younger. The meals are also available for disabled individuals 19-years or older who participate in a public or private non-profit program during the school year.
The meals are available on the daily schedule above through August 9.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Slide Up A Few Cents On Average
July 24, 2023
Gas prices increased a few cents on average last week in Florida.
The average price per gallon Sunday in Florida was $3.47, up from $3.41 last week, according to AAA. In Escambia County, the average per gallon was $3.30.
In North Escambia, a low of $3.09 was available at one station on Highway in Cantonment. In Pensacola a low of $3.01 could be found on Nine Mile Road.
Sunday’s state average remained below this year’s high of $3.72 per gallon.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Sunny Skies And Drier To Start The Week
July 24, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 93. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 93. North wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 71. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 93. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light southwest in the evening.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 92. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 93.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 94.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 95.
Eubie Oneal Steadham
July 24, 2023
With heavy hearts at 6:25 a.m., July 20th, Heaven opened the doors for our daddy, Eubie Oneal Steadham. He was 93 years young and we will miss him dearly. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, brother, grandfather, great grandfather and everyone’s friend.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 55 years, Christine O’Connor Steadham, his brothers, Arnold, Clifford, Glenn and Gordon, his sisters, Mildred, LaVerne and Sue. He is survived by his children, Margaret (Steve) White, Brenda (Roy) Stewart, Linda Steadham, Sandy Wyse, Scott (Tammy) Steadham, Michael (Michelle) Steadham, his sisters, Ouida (Bruce) Turner and Gayle Autin. His grandchildren, Aubrey (Brent Walden) White, Jennifer Stewart, Jackie (Josh) Kuechle, Timothy Hurd, Alicia (Derek) Bridwell, Gregory (Amberleigh) Steadham, Mathew (Kayla) Steadham, Spencer Steadham and Gavin Steadham. His Great-Grandchildren, Hayden Harrison, Molly Harrison, Kate Kuechle, Madison Rayfield, Cameron Hurd, Caleb Hurd, Ethan Bridwell, Nathan Cole and Connor Steadham.
He was born in McCullough, AL, September 26, 1929, and lived in Cantonment, FL, since 1953. He grew up farming, hunting and fishing and had a passion for these all his life. He passed his love of these things to his family. He served in the Army during the Korean Conflict and was stationed in Germany during his tour of duty. Upon completion of his service to our country, he began his 40-year career in the bagging industry at St. Regis Paper Company in Cantonment.
All of these things did not define him, what defined him was the family he built, there was nothing more important to him than that. It was at St.Regis Paper Company that he met his wife, Christine. He looked across the conveyor and was smitten. They were married within months of their “first date”, which was technically a lunch date at work. They raised their six children together on “Steadham Hill” and welcomed many family members and friends to share their home.
He looked forward every year to the two-day celebration of family and friends, better known as “Eubie Day”. He loved seeing all those that came to celebrate with him and the food they brought. The celebration began when he retired in 1993 and continued through 2020.
His Celebration of Life will be Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at Eastern Gate Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation from 10:30 a.m. unit noon, Services to follow. Procession at 1 p.m. to Holly Grove Family Cemetery in Gateswood, AL, with graveside services at 2:00 pm.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons: Aubrey White, Timothy Hurd, Gregory Steadham, Mathew Steadham, Spencer Steadham and Gavin Steadham.
Eastern Gate Memorial Funeral Home, 1985 West Nine Mile Road, Pensacola, FL 32534. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, July 25, 2023, from noon until 1 p.m., 1985 West Nine Mile Road, Pensacola, FL, 32534. A committal prayer service will occur Tuesday, July 25, 2023, from 2-2:30 p.m. at Holly Grove Cemetery, Holly Grove Cemetery Road, Robertsdale, A, 36567.
Johnston and Johnson Lead Pensacola To 7-2 Victory Over Trash Pandas
July 24, 2023
The score was tied, the bases were loaded and up stepped Troy Johnston in the eighth inning Sunday with Blue Wahoos Stadium abuzz with anticipation.
He delivered, of course, just like he’s so often done these two seasons in Pensacola.
Johnston laced a pitch down the right field line for a two-run double, which followed his run-scoring double in the sixth inning, to again become the offensive star of the Blue Wahoos’ 7-2 victory against the Rocket City Trash Pandas, which put a bow on a memorable homestand at the bayfront ballpark.
“I didn’t think (the Trash Pandas) were going to give me much to hit,” said Johnston, who has surged his batting average to .296. “(They) actually gave me two pitches to hit. The first one (from reliever Kelvin Caceres) I fouled off… got a little big (with swing).
“Of course, me being me, I was trying to hit a home run. But the second one I really honed in, I was like, ‘Alright, I gotta get the bat on the ball,” and tried to make something happen. I squeaked it down the first base line and (became game-deciding) hit.”
The Blue Wahoos tacked on three more runs in the inning on RBI hits from José Devers and Cody Morissette, plus a pitcher’s balk in between that scored Johnston. The win was Pensacola’s fifth in the six-game series against Rocket City, the Los Angeles Angels affiliate, located in Madison, Alabama, near Huntsville.
It boosted the Blue Wahoos record to 53-36, by far the best in the Southern League, and 12-9 in the second half of the season.
Earlier Sunday, the game’s pivotal performance was delivered by Blue Wahoos right-hander M.D. Johnson. He rebounded from a rough outing in his previous start where he allowed 10 runs July 16 against Birmingham to now twirl his best game this season.
Johnson, 26, a Dallas, Texas native, made his 16th start a sweet one, allowing just two hits and no runs in six innings. He matched his season-high with nine strikeouts and walked just one batter.
Of his 85 pitches, 52 were strikes. After giving up a leadoff double, then hitting the next batter to start the game, Johnson struck out the next three batters in succession. He faced only two batters above the minimum the rest of the way and finished off his pitching gem by striking out four of the last six hitters he faced.
“He was our spark plug, ultimately,” Troy Johnston said. “M.D. kept us in the game all day long and really just pitched his butt off. I am really thankful I was on the other side of that, playing defense and not offense.”
When Johnson left, the Blue Wahoos led 2-0 after a sacrifice fly RBI from Morissette in the fifth inning and Johnston’s double in the sixth.
Rocket City tied the game off first reliever Josan Méndez in the seventh.
But in the eighth inning, Nasim Nuñez led off with a walk. Griffin Conine singled. Avisaíl García, the Miami Marlins outfielder on a rehab assignment, walked to load the bases. That set the stage for Johnston.
“Any way we can get a win, I’m excited, especially on a Sunday,” said Johnston, who went 12-for-26 in the series with 11 RBI.
The Blue Wahoos next begin a road series Tuesday against the Mississippi Braves in the final week of games before the Major League Baseball trade deadline on August 1. This is a point in the Minor League Baseball season where roster moves are made and the Blue Wahoos could have a different makeup in the next few days.
With his success, there’s always a possibility Johnston gets elevated.
“Ultimately, I am just like every other kid… like a 12-year-old who wants to be a big leaguer,” Johnston said. “So for me, this is a stepping stone and I hope I get the call sooner than later and I will try do my best in whatever place they put me in.”
The Blue Wahoos will have Monday off before leaving on Tuesday for Pearl, Mississippi and a six-game road series against the M-Braves, the Atlanta Braves affiliate. It will be their second trip this season to Trustmark Park. The M-Braves will return to Pensacola for a third time on September 12-17 for the final homestand of the season at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The first game of the upcoming series against the M-Braves will begin at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Escambia Man Charged With Homicide After Shooting In Lounge Parking Lot
July 24, 2023
A man has been charged with homicide following a shooting Friday night at an Escambia County lounge.
Michael Andrew Rodriguez, 39, was booked in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
The shooting happened just before midnight Friday in the parking lot of Sam’s Lounge on North Old Corry Field Road. Rodriguez allegedly shot the victim before fleeing on foot.
There were no details on a motive released.