Escambia County Approves $200,000 Settlement In Century Woman’s Jail Death
August 8, 2025
Escambia County voted Thursday night to approve a $200,000 settlement in the death of a Century woman with special needs who died in the county jail in 2021.
The medical malpractice lawsuit was filed against Escambia County and West Florida Hospital. The lawsuit was filed in January 2024 by Melania Smith on behalf of her daughter, Alia Wardell, who died alone in jail in November 2021 after being discharged from the hospital into the Escambia County Jail.
The lawsuit alleged that both the hospital and the county failed to provide Wardell with life-saving medications for her diabetes and other serious conditions. According to the suit, a West Florida Hospital nurse reportedly noted concerns about discharging Wardell, stating she needed constant monitoring, and the patient herself had expressed fear of dying in jail. The hospital was accused of discharging Wardell in an “unsafe manner” and failing to inform the jail of her medical needs and medications, including Desmopressin and Hydrocortisone. West Florida Hospital has already reached a confidential settlement in the case.
The lawsuit further claimed that Escambia County EMTs and an LPN at the jail also failed to identify Wardell’s medical needs, including her prescriptions, and that she was not provided her medications.
Wardell had been admitted to West Florida Hospital on November 16, 2021, and was later charged with multiple counts of battery for allegedly attacking nurses. She was discharged on November 22 into the custody of Escambia County deputies. On November 28, she was found unresponsive in her jail cell and was pronounced dead at Baptist Hospital.
Escambia County’s $200,000 settlement to resolve all present and future claims and in exchange for a release and hold harmless agreement. The county has already paid a portion of the deductible and will be responsible for payment of the balance.
This is an update to a story we brought you earlier in the week.
Salzman To Host Distribution Saturday With Backpacks, School Supplies And Food Boxes
August 8, 2025
Rep. Michelle Salzman, in collaboration with Farm Share and a coalition of community sponsors and partners, will host the food distribution and backpack giveaway on Saturday, August 9 beginning at 7:30 a.m. at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church.
Items to be distributed while supplies last include a Farm Share food box, a backpack full of supplies and lunch boxes.
The drive-thru event will be at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church, 6205 North W Street, from 7:30 a.m. until. Vehicles can begin lining up at 6 a.m.
BOCC Approves $20K For Tate Baseball Field Artificial Turf Following Previous Northview Allocation
August 8, 2025
The Escambia County Commission is allocating $20,000 to the county school board for artificial turf infrastructure for the Tate High School Aggies baseball field. This funding will be provided through an interlocal agreement between the Board of County Commissioners and the school board.
The commission made an identical $20,000 allocation in October 2024 for the Northview High School Chiefs baseball field, and the turf was completed for the start of the 2025 baseball season (pictured above).
The commission approved both allocations from Commissioner Steven Barry’s District 5 Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) discretionary fund.
Pictured below: Artificial turf in place on the Northview High School baseball field in March for the Chiefs’ senior night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Bettered B Biscuits In Doubleheader Sweep
August 8, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos were swept in a doubleheader by the Montgomery Biscuits on Thursday night, falling 2-1 in game one before dropping the nightcap by a 7-0 final.
Game one was a duel between Biscuits starter Jonny Cuevas and Blue Wahoos starter Dax Fulton (L, 5-8). Cuevas, the first man up in a scheduled bullpen game, allowed only two walks over 4.0 hitless innings as Fulton allowed only two balls hit out of the infield in his first 5.0 innings.
The Blue Wahoos broke a scoreless tie in the top of the sixth, turning a Fenwick Trimble double and Kemp Alderman double play grounder into a 1-0 lead against Biscuits reliever Ryan Shreve (W, 3-3).
Fulton, asked to protect the lead, allowed one-out singles to Homer Bush Jr. and Jadher Areinamo before Cooper Kinney blasted a go-ahead, two-run double off the top of the right field wall.
Though Will Kempner left two of Fulton’s runners in scoring position to avoid further damage, the Pensacola offense couldn’t muster a rally against Derrick Edington (S, 7) in their final chance to avoid a 2-1, seven-inning defeat.
In game two, TJ Nichols (W, 1-0) impressed in his Double-A debut for the Biscuits. The righty worked 6.0 scoreless innings, coaxing four double plays, in support of a Montgomery offensive outburst.
Bush circled the bases with a single, two steals and a throwing error for a 1-0 lead in the first inning against Jake Brooks (L, 0-1). Tatem Levins laced a two-run single in the fourth for a 3-0 Biscuits lead, and singles from Cooper Kinney and Gregory Barrios highlighted a four-run fifth that put the game out of reach for a 7-0 final.
The Biscuits were 11-for-11 in stolen bases on the doubleheader, highlighted by Bush’s six steals in a 5-for-7 evening.
In taking the first three games of this week’s series, the Biscuits have trimmed their deficit in the second half South Division race to 3.5 games behind the first-place Blue Wahoos.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Friday.
Cory Sylvester Odom
August 8, 2025
Mr. Cory Sylvester Odom, aged 47, sadly passed away on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at his home. He was originally from Flomaton, Alabama, and had been living in Brewton, Alabama, for the last fifteen years. His presence in the community will be deeply missed.
He had a passion for the great outdoors, delighting in hunting and fishing whenever he could. As a skilled Pyrotechnician, he brought joy to many with his dazzling fireworks displays. Riding four-wheelers was one of his favorite pastimes, and he never missed a chance to cheer on Auburn football. In the evenings, he enjoyed relaxing with shows like NCIS and Tulsa King. Family meant everything to him, and he cherished spending time with his children and grandchildren. He also loved getting his hands dirty, tinkering with motors, cars, and trucks, using his welding skills from years of experience in construction. Every moment spent doing what he loved brought him happiness.
He is preceded in death by his father, Sylvester Odom; sister, Becky Spears, grandchild, Noah Buckhault.
He is survived by his mother, Sandra Odom (Jim Meskill) of Flomaton, Alabama; wife, Dana Lianne Odom of Brewton, Alabama; four sons, Travis Odom, of Flomaton, Alabama, Trent Odom, of Century, Floirda, Logan Odom of Brewton, Alabama, and Braeden Odom of Brewton, Alabama; two daughters, Brooke (Shannon) Buckhault of Evergreen, Alabama and Alexis Odom of Brewton, Alabama; four sisters, Joyce Petty of Atmore, Alabama, Mary Edna (Doug) McKee of Meridian, Mississippi, Cindy Gordon of Flomaton, Alabama, Debbie (Robert) Cash of Flomaton, Alabama; grandchildren, Dawson Buckhault and Liam Buckhault.
Funeral services will be held Monday, August 11, 2025 at 12:00 PM at Petty Funeral Homes. Brother Jim Meskill officiating.
Burial will follow at Emmons Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Monday, August 11, 2025 from 11:00 AM until service time at Petty Funeral Homes.
Pallbearers will be Brady Harris, Cole Harris, DeWayne Pugh, Chris Blackmon, Blake Godwin and Steven Powell.
One Airlifted With Serious Injuries After Bratt Rollover Crash
August 7, 2025
One person was seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash in Bratt, on Thursday morning.
The crash happened around 8:00 a.m. on Pine Barren Road, just north of Hanks Road.
The driver of a northbound Hyundai Accent, a 24-year-old Atmore man, crossed the centerline and collided with a southbound Toyota 4Runner driven by a 30-year-old Century woman. The Hyundai left the roadway and overturned against an embankment. The 4Runner came to rest just off the opposite side of the road.
“The driver of the Hyundai was fatigued and fell asleep while driving, crossing the center line into the southbound lane of travel,” the Florida Highway Patrol said.
The driver of the Hyundai was airlifted by a LifeFlight helicopter to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. The driver of the Toyota suffered minor injuries and refused EMS transport.
The crash temporarily closed Pine Barren Road.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Super Speeder: Man Charged In High Speed Chase That Ended In Crash Near Jim Allen Elementary
August 7, 2025
A high-speed chase Wednesday afternoon ended with a suspect crashing into a wooded area near Jim Allen Elementary School on Highway 95A. He was later booked into jail on multiple charges, including a violation of Florida’s new “super speeder” law that went into effect on July 1.
A Florida Highway Patrol trooper observed a sedan traveling at a high rate of speed on Highway 29 near Nine Mile Road and attempted a traffic stop. FHP said the driver, later identified as 29-year-old Tavares Shaquille Amel Moses, started to slow before accelerating away from the trooper, reaching speeds of 96 mph on northbound Highway 29.
Moses veered onto Highway 95A and then lost control while attempting to pass another vehicle, crashing through a fence and into a wooded area where the vehicle overturned.
Troopers said Moses attempted to flee on foot and was tased by the trooper. He was tased a second time when he again tried to flee.
FHP said Moses received minor injuries and was transported to the hospital by Escambia County EMS for evaluation. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail just after 9 p.m. Wednesday, with bond set at $14,000.
The trooper was not injured.
Moses was charged with fleeing and eluding, fleeing and eluding with disregard for safety of others, driving without a license, resisting arrest, and operating a motor vehicle exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 mph (commonly known as Florida’s new “super speeder” law).
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Women Charged With Multiple Child Abuse, Animal Cruelty Counts
August 7, 2025
Two Flomaton women were recently arrested on multiple counts of child abuse and animal cruelty.
Jessica Ann-Connie Wright and Molly Ann Weaver, both 39, were each charged with two counts of felony willful abuse of a child under 18 and two felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.
On July 5, the Flomaton Police Department responded to an animal complaint at a mobile home in the 3100 block of Old Flomaton Road. Police Chief Dereck Lowry said officers discovered unsanitary conditions inside the home. He said an animal that had been deceased for an extended period of time was found in the home along with two other animals.
“During the investigation, it was revealed that two young juveniles had also lived in the residence and had been exposed to the unsafe and unsanitary conditions,” Lowry said.
Wright is in the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton, and Weaver is in the Escambia County Jail in Pensacola without bond awaiting extradition back to Alabama.
Mother Gets Life For Helping Son In Home Depot Murder
August 7, 2025
An Escambia County jury on Wednesday convicted a mother for her role in a 2023 murder at a Home Depot in Pensacola.
Sheila Agee, 52, was found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder. She was sentenced to a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Her son, Keith Agee, was convicted of the first degree premeditated murder of 18-year-old Brooklyn Sims in the Davis Highway Home Depot on August 11, 2023. He was sentenced in December 2023 to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
This week’s three-day trial was the second for Sheila Agee — the first ended in a mistrial due to juror issues.
During his trial, Keith Agee took the stand and confessed to the murder, saying it was his intent. He said he tested positive for a sexually transmitted disease after becoming intimate with Sims. He testified that he was angry, hurt and felt betrayed. In reality, prosecutors said Sims did not have an STD.
Pictured: The scene at Home Depot on Davis Highway shortly after a 2023 shooting that left one person dead. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Infant Bitten By Family Dog In Beulah, Airlifted To Hospital
August 7, 2025
An infant was airlifted to the hospital after being bitten by a family dog in Beulah Wednesday morning.
The incident happened around 9:45 a.m. in the 6200 block of West Nine Mile Road.
The infant, reportedly about two weeks old, was transported by Escambia County EMS to the Beulah Fire Station and airlifted by LifeFlight to a local hospital as a “trauma alert”.
An update on the infant’s condition was not available. Escambia County Animal Welfare took the dog to the animal shelter on a rabies hold as is standard procedure. Officials said the dog was a pit bull mix.
File photo.