Local Man Thinks His Old McDavid Recipe Moonshine Is Good. He’ll Try To Prove It Tonight On National TV.
March 10, 2020
A Flomaton man will compete on national television to see if he makes the best moonshine during tonight’s episode of Moonshiners Master Distiller on the Discovery Channel.
“I had an old timer from McDavid that had many years experience in moonshine teach me how to do it about 13 years ago,” Johnny Griffis said, describing the man as a real character. “He gave me his old school family recipe.”
But don’t think Griffis will share the complete recipe for what he described as “an old school corn liquor moonshine”. He said it’s absolutely top secret. And moonshining is illegal in both Alabama and Florida.
The show was filmed in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in December under the license of a local distiller there, making the production legal.
And Griffis hopes that local residents will one day be able to purchase his moonshine. He said he’s filed the paperwork to start a legal distillery in the area.
Master Distiller airs at 9 p.m. Tuesday on the Discovery Channel. Griffis was not allowed to tell us in advance if he won.
According to the Discovery Channel, “America’s top legal and outlaw distillers go head to head in the ultimate booze-making competition to see who has what it takes to join the ranks of the greats and win the title of Master Distiller.” The champion of each episode will receive a limited release of their winning recipe through Sugarlands Distilling Co.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Chance Of Rain Returns For Tonight, Tuesday
March 9, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Areas of fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Calm wind.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Calm wind.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77.
Highway 29, Nine Mile Closed Sunday Night Into Early Monday Morning
March 8, 2020
Drivers traveling Highway and Nine Mile Road in Escambia County will experience the following lane and road closures from 8 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday as crews pour the deck for the final section of the new bridge.
- Southbound Highway 29: The outside, southbound lane will be closed.
- Nine Mile Road: All traffic will be directed to the on and off-ramps at the U.S. 29 overpass. Traffic control officers will be on site to help direct motorists. The following detour will be in place:
- Eastbound Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one lane, directed to Highwya 29 southbound, U-turn at West Hood Drive, and return to Nine Mile Road.
- Westbound traffic will perform the same operation at West 9 1/2 Mile Road.
- Additionally, Highway 29 traffic between Interstate 10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road may experience alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations.
Construction activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers should use caution, especially at night, when traveling through the work zone, and watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Pictured: Highway 29 southbound at Nine Mile Road Tuesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Sunny For Sunday; Clouds Return By Monday Followed By Tuesday Rain
March 8, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 68. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 57. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 77.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 78.
NCIS, ECSO Arrest Cantonment Man For 2001 Murder Of His Wife In Local Winn Dixie Parking Lot
March 7, 2020
FOR AN UPDATE TO THIS STORY, CLICK HERE.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Cantonment man Friday night for the murder of his wife found dead in the parking lot of the Cantonment Winn Dixie in 2001.
Navy civilian employee Greg Malarik, age 57 of Riddle Road, is charged with the murder of Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Sherri Malarik, on September 22, 2001. Malarik, a former Navy Petty Officer 1st Class, is employed by the Naval Aviation Technical Training Center aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola.
Sherri Malarik was found dead with two gunshot wounds to the head inside her van at the Winn Dixie on Highway 29 in Cantonment.
Efforts by the NCIS Southeast Field Office, the NCIS Cold Case Homicide Unit, and ECSO to analyze the crime scene, witness interviews, and other items of evidentiary value resulted in the determination that Mr. Malarik unlawfully killed Ms. Malarik by shooting her in the head with a handgun while seated in the front passenger seat of the van.
“This nearly 20-year-old investigation demonstrates NCIS’ relentless pursuit of truth and justice,” NCIS Southeast Field Office Special Agent in Charge Thomas Cannizzo said Friday night.
“We are enormously grateful to Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit, and the State Attorney’s Office for the First Judicial Circuit of Florida for their help in bringing resolution to this heinous crime. We hope this brings peace and closure to Ms. Malarik’s loved ones.”
“Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case investigators, the NCIS Cold Case Homicide Unit, and members of the State Attorney’s Office we are now able to close this case,” said Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan. “We continuously work on these cases year after year, no matter how much time passes. We hope to continue to keep closing cold cases like this one and giving families the closure they deserve.”
Time Change: Spring Forward. And Don’t Forget The Smoke Alarm Batteries.
March 7, 2020
Don’t forget to “spring forward” and set your clocks ahead one hour before heading off to bed Saturday night. Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, making use of longer summer days, allowing people to rise early and spend more of the day working or playing.
It’s also a good time to remember to change the batteries in your smoke alarm.
Ensley Chiefs Football, Cheerleading Registration Today
March 7, 2020
Registration is underway for football and cheerleading for the Ensley Chiefs.
Registration will be held Saturday, March 7 from 9 a.m. until noon at the Ensley Youth Sports Association at the J.R. Jones Athletic Park on Nine Mile Road
Weekend Sunshine, Cool Nights
March 7, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia are forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 38. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph after midnight.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 68. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 57. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 77.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Sunshine, North Winds For Friday
March 6, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 63. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 35. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 62. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 65. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 71. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 76.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73.
Presumptive Case Of Coronavirus From Santa Rosa County Being Treated In Pensacola
March 5, 2020
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a presumptive positive case of coronavirus in Santa Rosa County. During a news conference Thursday morning, he described the man as elderly, over age 70, with severe underlying medical conditions.
While the man is from Santa Rosa County, the public safety director there confirms that the patient is being treated at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola.
“He had been doing international travel. He’s not in shape to fully answer all the questions, so there’s an investigation ongoing, but that is a presumptive positive. It has not been confirmed by the CDC. I think we are at a point now with the local testing that we are highly confident that that is going to be verified.”
“Northwest Floridians should take proactive steps to minimize susceptibility by avoiding contact with anyone who is sick, washing their hands regularly, not touching their face, and staying home when sick with any type of illness,” Rep. Matt Gaetz said. “My office is in close communication with the White House and Governor DeSantis’s administration to ensure the residents of Northwest Florida are prepared to address coronavirus.”
The Florida Department of Health will be releasing more information, the governor said.
The Santa Rosa County patient is the third diagnosed in Florida. There are also five Florida residents quarantined in other states after returning from international travel.