Walnut Hill Man Charge With Battery Of 65-Year-Old Relative
January 10, 2025
A Walnut Hill man has been charged with battery of a 65-year-old relative.
Jared Evan Jones, 37, was charged with domestic violence related battery on a person 65 or older.
The victim told deputies that Jones demanded that he buy him a truck before becoming angry and started throwing furniture before pushing him down and hitting him in the back, an arrest report states.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy noted a cut on the 65-year-old victim’s leg and overturned furniture. After being read his rights, Jones told the deputy that the victim has ruined his life and won’t buy him a house or a truck, according to the report, before threatening to kill his parents once gets out of jail.
The Sheriff’s Office said the victim refused medical treatment.
Jones remained in the Escambia County Jail Friday morning with bond set at $5,000.
Finals Scores: Tate And Northview Basketball, Soccer
January 10, 2025
Basketball
Boys
- Tate 87, Navarre 59
- Catholic 75 , Northview 20
- Catholic 45, Northview 13 (JV)
Girls
- Catholic 65, Northview 15
- Tate 41, ECHS 38 (Wednesday)
Soccer
- Tate 7, Escambia 0
Spirit Airlines Adding Spring Break NonStop Pensacola Flights To Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Nashville
January 10, 2025
Spirit Airlines is launching four new nonstop destinations to and from Pensacola for spring break.
The flights between Pensacola International Airport and Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, and Nashville will begin in March.
The new destinations will operate on the following schedules:
- BNA-PNS: 3/6 – 3/18/25 at 4x weekly (New Service)
- DFW-PNS: 3/5 – 3/17/25 at 4x weekly (Resuming Service)
- DTW-PNS: 3/20 – 4/8/25 at 4x weekly (New Service)
- ORD-PNS: 3/20 – 4/8/25 at 3x weekly (New Service)
Spirit Airlines began service at Pensacola International Airport in June 2021 and has continued to enhance its offerings, becoming a key partner in connecting travelers to and from the Gulf Coast.
:We’re making it easier for travelers to discover Pensacola’s beautiful beaches and rich history this spring break with new, seasonal service from four major cities, including nonstop service from Chicago (ORD), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Detroit (DTW), and Nashville (BNA),” said John Kirby, vice president of Network Planning at Spirit Airlines. “On the heels of our fourth anniversary of serving Pensacola, we’d like to thank our partners at Pensacola International Airport (PNS) for their continued support as we add new options for our Pensacola Guests to enjoy.”
“We are delighted to see Spirit Airlines expanding their commitment to Pensacola by introducing these new spring break destinations. Each of these routes strengthens our ability to connect travelers to and from Pensacola with Spirit’s value pricing, ease and convenience. For our local community, this is also an exciting opportunity to explore four incredible cities right from our own airport. Whether it’s for business or leisure, these new routes make travel more accessible than ever,” Matt Coughlin, executive director of Pensacola International Airport, said.
Pictured: The first Spirit Airlines flight from Dallas-Fort Worth arrived in June 201 at the Pensacola International Airport. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mary Faye Gandy
January 9, 2025
Mrs. Mary Faye Gandy, age 84, passed away at her Flomaton residence on January 7, 2025.
Mrs. Gandy was born in Brewton, Alabama and a longtime resident of the Flomaton area. She was a member of The Eastern Star for over 25 years. She enjoyed doing the flowers for her church. Mrs. Gandy was very involved with the community and her family. She loved baking and decorating cakes of all kinds. She raised boston terriers and poodles and loved them dearly. She also entered “Star”, her boston terrier, into dog shows and brought her to “Champion”. Mrs. Faye had a huge heart for her community and was ALWAYS willing to step in and help any way she could. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, John L Gandy; her parents Carl Griffith and Mary VanHorne; maternal grandparents F.C. and Ivye Lee Phillips; paternal grandparents Earl and Mary Ellen Griffith; sister Dolores Morgan; brother Carl Griffith Jr; and a grandson Judson Slocom.
She is survived by two sons, Mike (Rena) Gandy of Century; Tracy Gandy of Century; one daughter Belinda (E.J.) Black of Seminole; seven grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Faye Gandy will be held on Monday, January 13, 2025, at 11 A.M. from the Chapel of Flomaton Funeral Home with Bro. Tim Floyd and Bro. Robert Gandy officiating.
Visitation will be held on Monday, January 13, 2025, from 10 A.M. until 11 A.M. at Flomaton Funeral Home.
Century Felon Facing Local Gun Charges After Visit From U.S. Secret Service
January 9, 2025
A Century man is facing local gun charges after a visit from the U.S. Secret Service.
Tavarus Donte Findley, 38, was charged with two counts of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. He remained in jail Thursday morning with bond set at $40,000.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office assisted a U.S. Secret Service senior special agent in contacting Findley at a mobile home on Alger Road. Findley admitting to owning a 12-gauge shotgun, according to an ECSO arrest report., before reaching behind a couch and handing the weapon to a deputy.
Another person in the home told deputies that Findley owned ammunition for the Mossberg shotgun that was located in a duffel bag and suitcase in closet in a back room of the mobile home. The individual retrieved the duffel bag, which contained 15 loaded shells inside an ammunition box, the report states. Deputies also located 91 loaded buckshot and slug shells inside numerous ammunition boxes.
ECSO said Findley was convicted in 2004 of three felonies — battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrester with violence and destruction of evidence.
The ECSO report does not state why Findley was interviewed by a U.S. Secret Service senior special agent. Federal court records do not show any current cases involving Findley.
New Nine Mile Road Five Guys Opens On Friday
January 9, 2025
The new Five Guys on East Nine Mile Road will open Friday.
Kirk Yackel, director of operations for Gellert Hospitality Group (GHG) of New Jersey, said the restaurant at 450 East Nine Mile Road will open for business at 11 a.m. Friday. GHG is the largest Five Guys franchise group in the country, with locations in Florida, Alabama and nine — soon to be 10 — other states. The group owns the Five Guys location on Airport Boulevard in Pensacola and the Pace location.
It’s located in a former Wendy’s location at 450 East Nine Mile Road that was remodeled over the last few months.
“I’m local to this side of town,” he said. “I’m excited and pushed for this location.”
The restaurant is known for its simple interior with red and white tiles boxes of peanuts to enjoy while waiting and bags of potatoes stacked up ready to become fresh, hand cut fries.
The menu is pretty simple — a couple of sizes of burgers with options for bacon and cheese and hot dogs (and yes, there’s bacon and cheese available for those). There’s a lengthy list of more than a dozen toppings — lettuce, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, condiments, hot sauce and more. All of the toppings are free. And the fries? Those are served in a paper bag and often leave people asking why there are so many. They also offer milkshakes.
“We also have fun mix-in flavors to our hand blended milkshakes, you could get chocolate, peanut butter, salted caramel, or even bacon in a shake,” Yackel said.
He said Five Guys also gives back to the community with fundraiser opportunities for local groups.
Pictured: Employees training underway at the new Five Guys on East Nine Mile Road. Also pictured: The new restaurant is in a remodeled Wendy’s. Courtesy and NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Rainy Friday Ahead
January 9, 2025
Here is the complete North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of rain after 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. East wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday: Rain, mainly after 9am. High near 59. East wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of rain before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 34. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Saturday: Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 46. North wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. Calm wind.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 58. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 51.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 55.
Century Voting Precinct Moving From Town Hall To Courthouse
January 9, 2025
The voting precinct for Century is moving from the town hall to the courthouse.
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Robert Bender said the precinct will move to the Billy G. Ward Courthouse on North Century Boulevard beginning with the January 28 primary vote for the Florida 1st Congressional District seat vacated by Matt Gaetz.
Voters in Century previously cast their ballots in the council chambers at Century Town Hall. That sometimes led to conflicts between century town meetings and election days.
The courthouse is owned by Escambia County, eliminating those scheduling conflicts.
“Voters and election workers have shared the positive experiences they have had using the Billy G. Ward Courthouse during early voting, and we are excited to make this our Election Day location moving forward,” Bender said. “I appreciate the Clerk of Courts for working with us and understand the benefits it has for the voters of Century.”
Century voters will soon receive a letter in the mail from Bender reminding them of the change.
The early voting location in Century was already at the courthouse. However, the Century early voting location will not be open before the January 28 primary.
The Billy G. Courthouse is located at 7500 North Century Boulevard.
State Agency Investigating Bobby Likis Auto Service
January 9, 2025
State authorities are investigating an Escambia County auto repair shop.
The law enforcement division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services served a search warrant this week at Bobby Likis Auto Service on Davis Highway.
According to our news partners at WEAR 3, sources say customers reported to local law enforcement unnecessary repairs and charges were made, while incomplete work was performed on vehicles.
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said a fraud report was filed by a person knowledgeable about the inner workings of the business. The ECSO deferred the investigation to The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
The allegations included unnecessary repairs and incomplete work on vehicles, WEAR reported.
“The department received information about concerning business activities at Bobby Likis Auto Services and immediately and aggressively opened an investigation in cooperation with local law enforcement,” the state agency said in a statement. “Consumers should be aware of these allegations and can contact the department at (850) 245- 1300 if they have concerns about previous services or purchases from this establishment.”
While the business carries his name, longtime Pensacola businessman Bobby Likis is not connected to the auto repair shop. After operating the business for almost 40 years, he sold the shop in 2019.
Photo courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
‘Keep The Wreath Green’ Finishes With 14 Red Bulbs Representing December Fires
January 9, 2025
There were 14 red bulbs placed on fire safety wreaths in Escambia County during the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign last month. Each bulb represents fires that caused damage.
“Escambia County saw 14 homes and businesses experience fire damages during the holiday season and our hearts go out to those impacted,” said Fire Chief Adam Harrison. “We hope the fire safety campaign was educational and brought awareness to all households. Fire safety awareness does not end with the holidays, so we encourage all residents to remain vigilant when protecting your homes from all fire hazards.”
The City of Pensacola had three residential structure fires that resulted in occupant displacement during “Keep the Wreath Green.”
If your home does not have a working smoke detector, please call Escambia County Fire Rescue at 850-595-HERO (4376) or 850-436-5200 for City of Pensacola residents.
The “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign is a collaborative initiative with the City of Pensacola to promote fire safety during the month of December. During the month-long campaign, five-foot wreaths are on display at 21 county fire stations and five city fire stations, as well as Escambia County’s Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building downtown, the Escambia County Public Safety Building and Pensacola City Hall. Each time firefighters respond to a residential fire with damage, a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by fires in residential homes.
Pictured above: A “Keep the Wreath Green” display at the McDavid Fire Station. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.