ECSO Closes Down Another ‘Drug House’, Makes Arrest
May 2, 2024
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says they have closed another drug house.
The ECSO Narcotics Unit, SWAT Team, and K-9 Unit served two search warrants in the 1300 block of Foxborough Drive near the Scenic Hills Country Club and the 900 block of Belair Road.
During the searches, deputies reported finding 565 grams of fentanyl, 379 grams of methamphetamine, six grams of marijuana, eight firearms (two were stolen), a Nissan 350z, and over $12,000 in cash.
Ty Savien Preyer was charged with trafficking in fentanyl, trafficking in methamphetamine, dealing in stolen property, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $302,000.
Photos Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Police Chief Submits Resignation
May 2, 2024
Flomaton Police Chief Dane NeSmith has submitted his resignation.
His last day on the job will be May 30.
NeSmith was hired by the Flomaton Police Department in March 2021 and was named chief in October 2022 after the resignation of then-chief Chace Thompson.
The town is accepting applications for their next police chief through 4 p.m. on May 14.
Pictured above: Flomaton Police Chief Dane NeSmit (left) speaks to other law enforcement officers on the sidelines of a Flomaton football game on August 25, 2023. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Wine Homers As Tate Beats Milton 6-3 In District Semi-Finals
May 2, 2024
The No. 3 seed Tate Lady Aggies beat the No. 2 Milton Panthers 6-3 in the District 1-6A semi-finals Wednesday night.
The Aggies were first on the board in the top of the first inning after Kara Win tripled and Amburleigh Laird had a sacrifice bunt, both scoring one run.
In the bottom of the third, a homer from Milton’s Kayal Willis tied the game at two.
Tate regained the lead at 3-2 in the top of the fifth when Wine smacked a solo home run to centerfield.
Jordan Smith earned the win for the Tate Lady Aggies, giving up five hits and three run in seven innings while striking out three and walking one.
Wine and Laird had two hits each to lead Tate at bat. Peyton Womack, Lacy Wilson, Blakely Campbell and Tristen Showalter each recorded on hit.
Tate (15-10 will take on No. 1 seed Pace (22-2) for the district championship at 6 p.m. Thursday in Pace.
Pictured: Kara Wine had a home run for the Tate Lady Aggies Wednesday night. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Charles Edward Barton
May 2, 2024
Charles Edward Barton, 83, of Molino, Florida, passed away April 21, 2024. He was born in Greenville, Alabama on July 29, 1940 to Willard and Lenora Barton. He was married to Jean Barton for 60 years. Charles worked in the paper making industry at St. Regis and Champion. He was a member of Highland Baptist Church, and had a passion for freshwater fishing, gardening, camping, and serving others.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Barton; father, Willard Barton; and mother, Lenora Barton.
He is survived by his daughter, Renae Roberson (Jerry); grandson, Jarred Roberson (Bridget Floyd); brothers, Roy Barton (Judy) and James Barton (LaRelda); and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Highland Baptist Church Cemetery Fund (6240 HWY 95A North, Molino, FL 32577).
Services for Charles Edward Barton will be held Friday, April 26, 2024 at Highland Baptist Church. The family will receive friends for visitation beginning at 11:00 a.m. followed by the service at 12:00 noon. Reverend Jerry Roberson will be officiating. Charles will be laid to rest at Highland Baptist Church Cemetery following the service.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, is entrusted with arrangements.
Spohn Stars as Wahoos Win Another Extra-Inning Thriller
May 2, 2024
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos won their third consecutive extra-inning game on Wednesday afternoon, scoring three runs in the tenth for a 5-3 victory over the Mississippi Braves.
Harrison Spohn was 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBI, including an RBI single in the 10th that proved to be the game-winner.
The low-scoring game was controlled early by two left-handed starting pitchers, as Pensacola’s Luis Palacios and Mississippi’s Drew Parrish locked horns. Spohn’s solo homer in the third gave the Blue Wahoos a brief 1-0 lead, but the Braves countered with solo homers from Yolbert Sanchez and Brandon Parker in the fourth to take a 2-1 advantage.
In the fifth, Bennett Hostetler laced a two-out double to left field before Spohn delivered a game-tying RBI single.
The Braves had ample opportunities to reclaim the lead, but left the bases loaded in the fifth and left runners at the corners against reliever Angel Macuare in the sixth.
After three scoreless innings of relief from Macuare, the Blue Wahoos turned to Austin Roberts (W, 2-0) in the ninth. The Pensacola closer worked around a one-out single to force extras.
In the top of the tenth, Domingo Gonzalez (L, 0-1) allowed an RBI single to Sean Roby that gave the Blue Wahoos a 3-2 lead. Bennett Hostetler doubled before Spohn’s third hit of the game brought home Roby for a 4-2 advantage. A wild pitch scored Hostetler for extra insurance, giving Roberts latitude to pitch around a Sanchez RBI double in the bottom of the inning to lock down Pensacola’s third win in a row.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Braves on Thursday evening. First pitch from Trustmark Park is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Update: Purple Alert Canceled After Missing, Endangered Man Located Safe
May 1, 2024
UPDATE: This man has been located and is safe.
A Florida Purple Alert has been issued for a missing and endangered Pensacola man.
Pensacola Police said 26-year old Alexander Cook suffers from developmental disabilities, is delusional, and may be having suicidal thoughts. Cook was last seen at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola on Tuesday afternoon. He may be headed to South Carolina but also has ties to Foley.
Cook is about 5 feet 10 inches tall and around 200 pounds. He was last seen wearing a dark gray hoodie with white writing on the back, dark gray pants, cowboy boots and a black cowboy hat with a feather. Cook has two tattoos on his left forearm (a black rooster and a cow skull), a tattoo on his right thigh (850) and several tattoos on his fingers.
He was last seen driving a white 2007 Ford King Ranch F150 with Florida tag 56AJE. There is a prominent CB antenna above the driver’s cab, a “Local 251″ sticker on the rear passenger window and paint missing from around the tailgate latch.
PPD said Cook has no history of violence but may lie about his identity. He is currently referring to himself “Chris” or “Jesus Christ”.
If you see him, PPD said do not approach him directly. Call Pensacola Police at (850) 435-1845.
Wanted Suspect Captured In The Woods In Century
May 1, 2024
After a second day of searching, authorities have captured a wanted suspect that was hiding in the woods in Century.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said 41-year-old Christopher George Pace has outstanding felony warrants for arson, trespassing with property damage and resisting arrest without violence. Two additional counts of resisting were added.
He evaded capture Monday during a manhunt involving dozens of law enforcement officers, police K-9 units and a drone. He was also the focus of another manhunt on March 18.
The ECSO and K-9s from the Century Correctional Institution and Escambia County Road Prison captured Pace without incident Wednesday morning in a wooded area off Pleasant Hill Road.
Pate’s prior convictions in Escambia County include first degree petit theft, burglary, criminal mischief, possession of burglary tools, trespassing, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia.
NorthEscambia.com photos and photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
James Herman Sanders
May 1, 2024
James Herman Sanders, age 79, of Atmore, AL passed away on April 29. 2024 in Bay Minette, AL. He was born on April 29, 1945 in Cantonment, FL to Norvell Lee and Rosa Lee King Sanders. He was the owner and operator of Sanders Sandblasting and Painting, and Lock-Out Auto. He is preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Larry Sanders, Wayne Sanders, Betty Lee, Joe Sanders and Roger Sanders.
He is survived by his wife, Marsha Diane Davis Sanders; his sons, James Chad (Dee) Sanders of Rocky Head, AL and Harold Brad Sanders of Atmore, AL; his sister, Gail Calhoun of Ozark, AL and his grandchildren, Harold Bradley Sanders, II, Blake J. Sanders and Shelby Noele Sanders.
A family gathering will be held at a later date.
School District Calls For All Of Highway 164 To Be Widened For Student Safety
May 1, 2024
The Escambia County School District is calling for Escambia County to widen the entire length of dangerously narrow Highway 164 across North Escambia.
The Escambia County Commission has approved a $1.25 million project to widen about 2.16 total miles of the highway in two locations in what one county commissioner promises is part of the first phase of work.
“We are fortunate that our county is working to widen a stretch of this highway, but it is imperative that the entire length of Highway 164 be updated to accommodate the width of all vehicles to travel safely,” Escambia County Schools Superintendent Keith Leonard said in an email to NorthEscambia.com Tuesday. Leonard said a similar letter will be sent to the county.
“Our district school buses practice extreme caution while traveling Highway 164 for the safety of our students while on board,” Leonard added. “It would be in the best interest of all citizens for Highway 164 to be widened to modern day standards.”
Highway 164 has been the scene of several near head-on crashes and sideswipes attributed to the narrow roadway. Some of the roadway has approximately 8-foot travel lanes — not wide enough for large vehicles like a fire engine from the nearby McDavid Fire Station (pictured left).
The newly funded project will widen Highway 164 to 11-foot wide travel lanes two-thirds of a mile east from Highway 97 and a 1.5 mile stretch that is three-quarters of a mile either side of the Pine Barren Road intersection. (See maps below.) Highway 164 is about 11.5 miles long from Highway 97 near Walnut Hill to Highway 29 in McDavid.
District Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry has committed to finding funds to improve the entire roadway.
“”I promise it’s not the completion of the project, only the first phase including the worst area, and I will keep working diligently to secure the funds needed for additional widening of Highway 164 and for other roads which need these type improvements as well,” Barry said.
Darlene Hart, director of the Transportation Department Escambia County School District, said that school buses, including mirrors, are 10-feet wide like other commercial vehicles. She said district buses have been involved in three collisions with other motorists on Highway 164 since 2015. Two of those involved mirror-to-mirror collisions with other commercial vehicles, and the third involved an overturned pickup truck (pictured).
“We attribute the absence of student injuries in any of the accidents to our professionally trained drivers. However, despite their excellent training, every time they pass an oncoming vehicle on this road, it is still a nerve-wracking
experience,” she wrote in a letter to NorthEscambia.com.
“It’s important to note that standard large private trucks are typically 7 to 8 feet wide, not including mirrors, and these are the types of vehicles we frequently encounter in this area of the county. This underscores the urgent need to widen Highway 164 to ensure the safety of our students and other drivers,” Hart continued.
“We appreciate the county’s efforts to widen a portion of Highway 164, which is most frequently used. However, we urge them to consider widening the entire length of the road for the safety of our students,” the director wrote.
The Escambia County Commission awarded a $1,254,955.88 bid to Panhandle Grading and Paving, the lowest, most responsive, and responsible bidder for the current 2.16 mile project, funded by Local Option Sales Tax funds and expected to be complete within 150 days.
According to Escambia County Engineering, the two areas to be widened had seven sideswipes and other accidents between May 2018 and May 2023– the highest concentration areas on Highway 164. NorthEscambia.com has covered several other crashes on Highway 164 outside the proposed widening zone — including a fiery two pickup crash last April, and a pickup truck and school bus last year (detailed in photo descriptions below).
Pictured above and first below: A near head-on crash in April 2023 on Highway 164 about a mile west of Pine Barren Road — outside the area currently proposed for widening. Pictured second and third photos below: A pickup truck overturned in February 2022 after sideswiping a school bus on Highway 164 1.3 miles east of Pine Barren Road — outside the area currently proposed for widening. Pictured bottom two photos: A school bus and ECUA sanitation truck sideswiped in June 2022 just east of Pine Barren Road — our records do not indicate the exact distance from Pine Barren Road, but it was very near the three-quarter mile mark. NorthEscambia.com photos and graphics, click to enlarge.
Dry, High In The Middle 80s
May 1, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62. South wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 87. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 87.