Working Together Again: Rep. Salzman, New Century Mayor Discuss Town’s Future
May 15, 2025
Century Mayor Ben Boutwell, who was sworn into office just last Friday, and Rep. Michelle Salzman held a sit-down meeting over lunch on Wednesday to talk about Century’s future.
In August 2004, Salzman instated a process that ultimately led to the state terminating about $15.6 million in grants with Century during the administration of former mayor Luis Gomez, Jr. At the time, Salzman said she went to the Florida Auditor General to look at everything involving grants to Century and look for any concerns or red flags.
Monday, Salzman and Boutwell sat down to look at where Century is, and where Century is headed.
“I met with the mayor of Century for a productive and encouraging discussion about the town’s progress,” Salzman said. “We reviewed funding allocations from previous years and explored the current development stages of several key projects. It was a positive and forward-looking meeting, centered on our shared vision for the future of Century. We also reflected on the significance of returning to serve in our respective roles and expressed our excitement about continuing to work together to support the community’s growth and success.”
“It was a wonderful visit,” Boutwell said. “We had good talks for the town — the future, future growth, economic development and how the north end of the county is going to grow….Getting Century’s infrastructure prepared for it, and we have started; the wastewater project started this week. It was a great visit, and we look forward to working together again.”
Northview High School Names Students Of The Month
May 15, 2025
Northview High School recently named their April Students of the Month. They are Brandon Odom and JaCee Dortch, pictured with Principal Michael Sherrill. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Three Arrested At Pace Pharmacy For Alleged Pill Mill Scheme. Here’s What To Know.
May 15, 2025
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) today arrested Pace Pharmacy pharmacists Stephen Allen Burklow and David Barron Winkles and pharmacy office manager Monique Burklow. The suspects are charged with conspiring to traffic prescription drugs including trafficking over 22 kilograms (48 pounds) of oxycodone, over 26 kilograms (57 pounds) of hydrocodone and just shy of one kilogram of hydromorphone. The Burklows are the owners of Pace Pharmacy LLC.
The arrests are the result of a multi-year, multi-agency investigation led by FDLE with assistance from the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Department of Financial Services, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
“In our communities, there is no room for criminals that greedily profit from the opioid epidemic by trafficking illicit drugs under the guise of a legitimate pharmacy,” said FDLE Pensacola Special Agent in Charge Chris Williams. “I am proud of the complex and dedicated work demonstrated by FDLE’s agents, crime intelligence analysts and forensic scientists, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office investigators, and the work of all of our partners to get these thugs off our streets.”
“These arrests are a result of excellent teamwork between law enforcement agencies,” said Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson. “This sends a clear message that no one is above the law, not even those entrusted with our community’s health. The illegal distribution of controlled substances puts lives at risk and fuels addiction. We will continue to hold individuals accountable who choose to profit from this type of criminal behavior.”
Stephen Burklow, 54, of Pace, was arrested on conspiracy to traffic oxycodone, conspiracy to traffic hydrocodone, conspiracy to traffic hydromorphone, conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and five counts of identity theft.
Winkles, 69, of Pace, was arrested on conspiracy to traffic schedule II-controlled substances and conspiracy to commit racketeering.
Monique Burklow, 58, of Pace, was arrested on conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to sell controlled substances.
FDLE’s investigation began in December 2020, after learning that a local obstetrician-gynecologist, later identified as Dr. Elaine Sharp, was writing an excessive amount of controlled substance prescriptions and recommending her patients fill the prescriptions at Pace Pharmacy. During this same time, FDLE was working jointly with multiple state, local and federal agencies to investigate numerous allegations of a pill mill operation in the area.
Agents say the Burklows and Winkles accepted and dispensed illicit prescriptions (including oxycodone, hydromorphone and hydrocodone) outside the course of professional practice and not intended for medical purpose or need. Additionally, Mr. Burklow, through the Pace Pharmacy, billed multiple insurance companies, using various physicians’ National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers without their knowledge or consent to do so, for prescriptions that may or may not have been provided to patients.
The trio were arrested without incident and booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail. The cases will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, First Judicial Circuit.
Pictured: (L-R) Monique Burklow, Stephen Allen Burklow, and David Barron Winkles.
Two Injured In Crash That Shutdown Highway 29 Wednesday Afternoon
May 15, 2025
Two people were injured in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon on Highway 29 near Quintette Road.
The crash happened around 5:15 p.m. and involved a SUV and a sedan.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the 16-year-old male driver of a SUV failed to yield at the stop sign at the end of Quintette Road. He entered the path of the sedan, which was driven by a 33-year-old Flomaton man.
One of the injured was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital by medical helicopter.
The crash shutdown Highway 29 both northbound and southbound.
FHP cited the teen for failing to yield at the stop sign.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Dry Weather Ahead; Highs Reaching Near 90
May 15, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 70. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 90. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Escambia County Corrections Welcomes 12 New Officer Trainees
May 15, 2025
Escambia County Corrections has announced that 12 new corrections officers will be joining the department after successfully graduating from George Stone Criminal Justice Training Center as Corrections Academy #127.
The officer trainees were among 22 graduates at in the corrections academy at the George Stone Criminal Justice Training Center, marking the completion of a rigorous 420-hour training program designed to prepare them for careers in corrections.
New Escambia County corrections graduates include Laton Bates, Casie Cassaras, Brandon Danielson, Hannah Forte, Cody Fryman, Wesley Hart, James Kessler, Andrew Manning, Austin McLean, Geneva Simmons, Corey Tolbirt, and Thomas White.
“These graduates have worked hard and shown exceptional dedication to public service,” Escambia County Corrections Captain Shawn Hankins said. “We are proud to have twelve of them join our team, and we look forward to their success.”
Over the course of three months, the trainees participated in an intensive curriculum that combined physical training, academic studies, and hands-on certifications. The program, recognized for its demanding nature, equipped the students with the skills and knowledge necessary to handle the complexities of working in corrections.
The training curriculum covered essential topics including defensive tactics, physical fitness, and specialized certifications such as CPR, first aid, and firearms. Students also participated in academic courses that explored the legal, ethical and procedural aspects of corrections work.
To further encourage qualified individuals to pursue careers in Corrections, Escambia County Corrections is offering sign-on bonuses for certified corrections officers and officer trainees. Certified Corrections Officers are eligible for an $8,000 sign-on bonus, and officer trainees who want to join the George Stone Corrections Academy and become certified are eligible for a $5,000 sign-on bonus, plus a paid scholarship to attend the Corrections Academy.
Wild Pitching Costs Wahoos In 9-0 Loss
May 15, 2025
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos struggled to find the strike zone in their Education Day game on Wednesday afternoon, falling 9-0 to the Rocket City Trash Pandas.
Pensacola pitching walked six batters and hit five more, giving the Trash Pandas free baserunners throughout the game. Robby Snelling (L, 2-3) took the loss, allowing five runs in 4.0+ innings as Rocket City evened up the series at one game apiece.
Snelling, who struggled in the first inning in a disappointing start last week in Biloxi, had trouble out of the gate again against the Trash Pandas. Three walks, including two with the bases loaded to Christian Moore and Jaxx Groshans, gave Rocket City a quick 2-0 lead.
That would turn out to be more than enough for Joel Hurtado (W, 3-2), who worked 7.0 scoreless innings on only 83 pitches. The Pensacola offense managed just three singles against the hard-throwing righthander.
The Trash Pandas added another run in the third inning on a Myles Emmerson double, and chased Snelling from the game in the fifth with three singles to load the bases with nobody out. Ricky DeVito entered and hit two batters on consecutive pitches, forcing in two more runs. DeVito would hit two more batters in the sixth inning, tying a Southern League record with four hit batsmen over 2.1 innings. Three Pensacola errors allowed both free baserunners to score in the sixth, extending the Rocket City lead to 7-0.
Two more Rocket City runs scored in the seventh on a Sam Brown RBI groundout and a wild pitch. José Quijada and Camden Minacci worked the final two innings for the Trash Pandas to complete a four-hit shutout.
Pensacola reliever Nigel Belgrave was a bright spot, striking out seven batters over 2.2 scoreless innings.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Trash Pandas on Thursday night. First pitch from Blue Wahoos Stadium is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
Cheryl L. Johnson
May 15, 2025
Ms. Cheryl L. Johnson of Beulah, Fl, passed away peacefully at her home on April 1, 2025. With the loves of her life, her two dogs Kentucky Rose and Pickles. Cheryl was born April 3,1962 to the late Linda and Carl Stone.
She has worked at the Beulah Texaco for many years and loved spoiling the kids that came in and welcoming everyone with that big beautiful smile of hers. She was known as Aunt Cheryl to so many and was a shining example of compassion and generosity, always willing to give what little she had to bring joy to others. Her heart was filled with love, and her spirit was fueled by a passion for giving. She loved her family immensely and was so proud of her kids, grandkids and extended family.
Cheryl was proceeded in death by her parents Carl and Linda Stone, sister Karla Arnold and brother Ray Stone.
We are having a celebration of life for Cheryl Johnson Saturday May 17th 2025 at 1:00pm at Windy Hill Baptist Church and would like to invite the Beulah Community that she loved so much to come out and join us.
Retired Sheriff’s Deputy Doing Well After Stranger’s Kidney Donation Saves His Life
May 14, 2025
A retired Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy’s prayers for a kidney donor have been answered.
NorthEscambia.com first told you about Rudy Brown in June 2024 as he humbly asked for help to find a kidney.
That story led to a stranger, Doyle Carpenter, finding out that he is the perfect match for Rudy. The successful transplant was on Monday.
“Good is good,” Brown said Tuesday. “Kidney is working overtime. It removed 12 liters of fluid in the first 12 hours after surgery; it started working immediately after the transplant. Thank you again Doyle.”
Rudy joined the ECSO in December 1989 and spent 24 years on patrol in Escambia County. He retired due to his medical condition in 2013 and underwent a liver transplant in 2018.
“I pretty much bled out two times on the table,” he said. “It nearly killed me.”
The required anti-rejection medications caused his kidneys to fail just over year later. He’s in final stages of kidney failure and has been on the transplant list since October 2020, but his number never came up as he stayed on dialysis.
A donor like Doyle was his only option to live.
“I was immediately drawn to his story,” said Doyle, an anesthesia technician at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola. “As a former EMT, his situation struck a chord with me, especially after all his years of service.”
“I felt like it was something I was called to do,” Doyle said. “I took a compatibility test and learned we were a perfect match.”
Finding a perfect kidney match with a stranger is extremely rare, with the odds estimated to be around 1 in 100,000. So is becoming an altruistic donor, with only 300 to 400 Americans each year choosing to donate a kidney to someone they don’t know.
Rudy said many people at his church were tested but were not suitable candidates.
“When Doyle told me he was going to get tested, I appreciated it but didn’t expect much to come of it,” he said. “But when he called back saying he was a match and still wanted to donate, I saw the Lord’s fingerprints all over this miracle.”
“Rudy smiled so much; it made me so happy,” Doyle said.
“This was God’s plan,” he said.
“God is indeed good,” Rudy said Tuesday.
Pictured: Doyle Carpenter (left) and Rudy Brown (right). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Motorcyclist Critically Injured After Striking Speed Bump in Cantonment
May 14, 2025
A man was thrown off his motorcycle and critically injured when he struck a speed bump too fast in Cantonment.
It happened around 2:45 p.m. on Tate Road off Kingsfield Road.
The man, reportedly in his 60s, was transported to an area hospital as a trauma alert.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
