Century Man Gets 15 Years For Raping Woman After A Night Out
June 10, 2023
A Century man has been sentenced to the maximum of 15 years in state prison for sexual battery.
Demontra Johntra Mitchell, 29, was also designated as a sexual offender by Circuit Court Judge Linda Nobles.
On October 8, 2020, after spending the evening in downtown Pensacola, the victim and several others went to Mitchell’s house. In the early morning hours, the victim was sexually battered by an unidentified individual. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement conducted DNA analysis. The tests showed Mitchell had sexually battered the victim.
“The defendant’s actions stripped the victim of all sense of personal security. His actions warrant the maximum sentence of 15 years in prison,” prosecuting attorney Frederick V. Longmire argued at the sentencing hearing.
10,000 Pound Food Giveaway In Cantonment
June 10, 2023
UPDATE: Organizers have updated this event to Tuesday, June 20 not June 13.
The Cantonment Improvement Committee will hold a drive-thru 10,000 pound food giveaway Tuesday afternoon, June 20 at Carver Park on Webb Street.
The food distribution will begin at 3 p.m. and continue while supplies last for anyone in need of food. People should line up their vehicles, single file on Webb Street facing north; food will be loaded into vehicles. Identification is required.
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Escambia Extension Small Farm Workshop Is Tuesday
June 10, 2023
Do you want to start a farm but are not sure where to start? Or just want to learn more about Florida programs that can help with your current operation?
Escambia Extension will hold a Small Farm Workshop for Emerging Farms on June 13 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at 3740 Stefani Road in Cantonment.
Topics will include loan and cost share programs, soil fertility, agritourism, small ruminant livestock and marketing.
The cost is $15. To register, or for more information, click here. Lunch will be provided.
Scattered Showers Possible Tonight
June 10, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming southeast after midnight.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 10 mph.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
License-Free Freshwater Fishing This Weekend In Florida
June 10, 2023
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) invites Florida residents and visitors to go freshwater fishing June 10-11 without a license.
The license-free fishing weekend offers a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and experience the many fishing opportunities the Fishing Capital of the World has to offer. The FWC encourages everyone to take advantage of the weekend to spend time enjoying the beautiful Florida waters.
“Fishing is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and experience Florida’s abundant fishing opportunities,” said Roger Young, FWC’s executive director. “License-free fishing weekends allow Floridians and visitors to get outdoors, connect with nature and create lasting memories with family and friends.”
During the license-free weekends, all bag limits, size limits and fishing regulations still apply. Anglers must also follow all other fishing rules, such as gear restrictions, seasons and closures. To help ensure a fun and safe fishing experience, the FWC encourages all anglers to review the regulations before heading out on the water.
Pictured: Fishing at Lake Stone near Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Rosario’s Walk-Off Homer Lifts Blue Wahoos To Thrilling Victory
June 10, 2023
Dalvy Rosario arrived in Pensacola shortly before noon on Friday.
Nine hours later, he was celebrating as a team hero.
The 22-year-old outfielder, called up from the Beloit Sky Carp to fill a position need, electrified a capacity crowd in his debut Friday night with a dramatic, ninth-inning, two-run walk-off homer, lifting the Blue Wahoos to a 6-4 victory against the Montgomery Biscuits.
The win pushed the Blue Wahoos (34-21) into a seven-game lead over the Biscuits, six games ahead of the Biloxi Shuckers, who lost Friday, in the first half Southern League division race that has 14 games left to play.
Rosario, a Dominican Republic native, had not homered this season. But on a 3-1 count, he jumped on a slider from Biscuits reliever Graeme Stinson and sent a moon shot over the left field wall with the ball carrying 380 feet and exiting at 101 mph off his bat.
And it was also his first Double-A hit, although he just missed a homer to center field earlier in the night.
When the hit was launched, the roar began, the Blue Wahoos dugout erupted, and a celebratory ice bucket bath awaited from teammates at home plate in one of Pensacola’s signature wins this season.
It was the first time the Blue Wahoos had a walk-off homer since Peyton Burdick, now a Miami Marlins outfielder, produced the feat in the 2021 season. It was the Blue Wahoos’ second walk-off win this season. The first happened on a fielder’s choice and throwing error.
This one came on Giveaway Friday where fans received a Blue Wahoos 2022 championship t-shirt courtesy of game sponsor Total Fire Protection.
Rosario’s rocket was even more significant because it happened after the Biscuits’ Evan Edwards tied the game with two outs in the top of the ninth with a monster shot off reliever Brady Puckett. The ball went over the video board traveling 461 feet towards the water.
Earlier Friday night, it was the Patrick Monteverde and José Devers show. Monteverde, the Blue Wahoos’ top pitcher, was in his usual form. The lefty allowed just two hits and one run, striking out nine batters in six innings.
Meanwhile, Devers hit a two-run homer in the third inning and followed with a solo blast in the fifth. He began the night with just two homers this season. Both of the ones Friday were no-doubter line drives into the right field berm.
Cobie Fletcher-Vance, making his return from Triple-A Jacksonville had a good night at the plate as well, including an RBI double in the fourth inning.
Monteverde threw 100 pitches in his outing. His final pitch was a ground out to second baseman Nasim Nuñez – the third putout for Nuñez in the inning – to complete the sixth.
After Monteverde exited, carrying the 4-1 lead, the Biscuits quickly trimmed it on their first two at-bats off reliever Will Stewart in the seventh inning.
Mason Auer led off with a fly ball that Norel González misplayed into a triple. Diego Infante followed by launching a blast into the right-center berm. Stewart then recovered to get a lineout and pair of strikeouts around a single to end the inning.
Jefry Yan replaced Stewart in the eighth inning and was solid, recording a pair of strikeouts in his return from Triple-A Jacksonville.
Puckett started the ninth with a long fly ball out and was in position to get the save when Edwards hit the bomb.
The Blue Wahoos will try to gain the series win on Saturday night. Jonathan Bermudez (0-2, 2.95 ERA) will be on the mound for the Blue Wahoos against the Biscuits’ Mason Montgomery (0-2, 4.75).
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
ECUA Returns To Recycling On Monday
June 9, 2023
ECUA returns to full recycling next week.
Operation of the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) was interrupted back in mid-April due to a “staff turnover” and downtime to hire and train employees. Since then, the MRF was able to continue to accept and process source-separated recyclables such as cardboard.
The facility was in operation this week for what ECUA is calling a “successful soft start”.
“We truly appreciate our customers’ continued use of good recycling habits, which helped to promote a successful soft-start,” ECUA Public Information Office Nathalie Bowers said.
While restaffing activities were ongoing, maintenance and construction employees took advantage of plant downtime for maintenance and certain process modifications to improve plant functionality. These included:
- replacement of the baler’s motor
- modifications to the design of some chute to enhance performance of robots
- rebuilding of the metering bin, which is the first part of the plant process and serves to load recyclables onto the conveyor belt in an even and uniform way.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Accused Of Lowe’s Burglary, Riding Mower Theft
June 9, 2023
A Cantonment man is accused of burglarizing a Lowe’s store and stealing a riding lawnmower.
James Robert Harkness, 37, was charged with burglary of an unoccupied structure, grand theft, criminal mischief and possession of burglary tools.
Harkness used bolt cutters to cut a lock on a fenced-in area at Lowe’s on Fairfield Drive about 1:30 a.m. on the morning of May 26, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Video surveillance shows a suspect pull up in a SUV with a utility trailer, lower the ramps and grab bolt cutters. The suspect on video then cuts the lock on the fence and pushes a John Deere lawn mower valued at $2,799 onto the trailer and drives away, the ECSO said.
Using a partial tag number and other instigative techniques, investigators said they were able to identify Harkness as the suspect.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Harkness was also suspected of selling a stolen John Deere riding mower.
Graduation Held For Sheriff’s ‘Blazer Academy’
June 9, 2023
Several young men have completed the 2023 Escambia County Sheriff’s “Blazer Academy”.
They spent six weeks developing lifelong skills. The goal of the program was to immerse young men in an environment that provides mentoring and instruction on many topics such as courtesy, responsibility, empowerment and respect. And there were some pretty sharp blazers involved.
They learned how to do a proper handshake, how to put on a tie, how to present themselves and much more.
They celebrated their successes as Sheriff Chip W. Simmons presented them with their completion certificates at a graduation ceremony held at the Saenger Theatre. After the ceremony, the graduates had a celebratory dinner at Global Grill, where they made a toast to completing the academy and their futures.
Today Is Deadline To Apply For Southern Pine Beetle Assistance Program
June 9, 2023
Applications are being accepted for the 2023 Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program for non-industrial, private forest landowners through today, June 9, 2023. The Florida Forest Service program includes 44 northern Florida counties – the known range of the southern pine beetle — including Escambia and Santa Rosa.
“Most of Florida’s forests are privately owned, many by small family landowners,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson. “This program helps to protect the health of our pine forests – one of our most valuable resources in providing clean air, water, and timber.”
The southern pine beetle is one of the most economically devastating forest pests in the Southeastern United States, with periodic outbreaks destroying thousands of acres of pine timber. The last major southern pin beetle outbreak in Florida, between 1999 and 2002, caused an estimated $59 million in timber losses on over 24,000 acres.
“Southern pine beetle outbreaks have the potential to destroy thousands of acres of pine timber,” said Rick Dolan, Director of the Florida Forest Service. “The most effective way to minimize losses is to prevent infestations through active forest management.”
The Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program, supported through a grant by the U.S. Forest Service, provides incentive payments for landowners who have overstocked pine stands and need to conduct a first thinning. In addition, it offers partial cost reimbursement for activities that can mitigate southern pine beetle activity, such as prescribed burning, mechanical underbrush treatments, and the planting of longleaf or slash pine rather than loblolly pine, the beetle’s preferred species. All qualifying applications received during the submission period will be evaluated and ranked for approval.
The Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program promotes forest management practices that reduce the risk and impacts of southern pine beetle infestations. Since it was first offered in 2005, the program has been implemented on more than 205,000 acres and helped thousands of landowners.
To obtain an application or to learn more about the Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program, visit: FDACS.gov/SPBPrevention.