Driver Crashes Pickup Truck Into Nine Mile Road Retention Pond
November 5, 2021
A pickup trucked ended up in a retention pond midday Friday on Nine Mile Road.
The driver was southbound on Guidy Lane when she went through the intersection with Nine Mile Road. Her GMC Sierra went through a fence and into the pond at a self-storage facility She was transported to the hospital by Escambia County EMS for evaluation.
The front of the truck was submerged to the bumper.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Century Seeks $1.8 Million For New Water Meters, System Interconnects To Central Water Works
November 5, 2021
The Town of Century is seeking nearly $1.8 million in legislative funding for two water projects.
The town is seeking just over $1.3 million to replace all of their existing water meters, moving from a manual read system to a radio reporting system. The funding would be used to purchase new meters, software and hardware for the radio system. Century sought funding for the project from the legislature last year, but was not approved.
The town is also asking for a $493,125 appropriation for two new interconnections between their water system and Central Water Works. Interconnects between the two waters systems would be on Highway 4 near Williams Street and State Line Road. The connections would provide a backup water supply in the event of a failure of some portion of Century’s system. A similar crossover was installed last year between Century’s water system and Central to provide a secondary water source for the Century Correctional Institution, but not the rest of the town.
Escambia County state legislative delegation will hold a public hearing on local request on Tuesday, December 7, from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. at the Pensacola State College Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio at 1000 College Boulevard in Pensacola.
Pictured: Water flows into the Century Correctional Institution in May 2020 following the failure of a Century water well. A permanent interconnect between the Century and Central water system now provides a backup for the prison, but not the rest of the town. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Superintendent Tim Smith Takes Flight With Blue Angels
November 5, 2021
Escambia County School Superintendent Tim Smith had a chance to fly with the Blue Angels this week.
Smith flew in the#7 jet with Lt. Cmdr. Julius Bratton.
We’re told Smith did not get sick during the flight, but he did pass out briefly during a high G-force maneuver.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Final Paving Underway On Highway 29 Widening Project
November 5, 2021
Paving operations and nearing completion on the Highway 29 widening project.
Crews are placing the final layer of structural asphalt for the Highway travel lanes between I-10 and Nine and a Half Mile Road.
Highway 29 has been widened from four to six travel lanes. Traffic moved to the final configuration in early October.
Pictured: The newly paved Highway 29 travel lanes near Hood Drive. Also seen in this photo are the medians, sidewalks, curb and gutter, and signalization upgrades. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF President Saunders Receives One-Year Contract Extension
November 5, 2021
University of West Florida President Martha D. Saunders’s contract has been extended another year, through the end of 2022.
The Board of Governors unanimously approved the one-year extension on November 4 after the UWF Board of Trustees unanimously voted on Saunders’ contract renewal in September.
“I am honored to serve as president of UWF for another year and appreciate the confidence that the UWF Board of Trustees has placed in me,” said Saunders. “We are building on good momentum to meet the needs of our students, our region and our state.”
Missing Man, 82, Found Deep In Cottage Hill Woods
November 4, 2021
A missing 82-year old man was found deep in wooded area in Cottage Hill late Wednesday night, but the process to get him out of the woods took hours.
Alfred Joseph Blake was last seen leaving his home near the Scenic Hills Country Club, on Tuesday to go hunting on Wendy Drive off Parker Road in Cottage Hill.
Authorities searched for him Tuesday night and all day Wednesday. He was located deep in a wooded area about 11:45 p.m. Wednesday.
Emergency crews worked their way through a thick and swampy area, finally reaching Blake about 2:20 a.m. Thursday to get him out to a waiting ambulance.
For more photos from the search scene, click or tap here.
On Wednesday, his vehicle was found near the location where he was believed to be hunting. Authorities also located a bloody arrow, leading them to believe had had shot a deer and perhaps became lost while attempting to track the animal.
The massive search involved the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the ECSO SWAT team, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS, Escambia Search and Rescue, and other agencies. The Escambia Sheriff’s Office mobile command center was also on site.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
This Tate High Teacher Is An Atlanta Braves Superfan. Check Out Her Classroom.
November 4, 2021
A Tate High School teacher is an Atlanta Braves superfan.
She was there with her 2-year old son at Game 6 when the Braves won the world series in 1995, and that son went on to work for the Braves. And her classroom? It’s dedicated to her beloved Atlanta Braves.
We asked Sherry Sherrill about her love for the world champion Atlanta Braves, her baseball family, and her Tate classroom that’s been dedicated to the Braves for over 15 years.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Why are you such a Braves fan, and how did it start?
It started when I was a teenager and my mother’s sister, we call her Sissy, had season tickets and she would take us to games. We all grew up loving Dale Murphy! And when the 90’s got here, we had a blast watching them win with Glavine, Maddux, Smoltz, Chipper, etc.
How long has your classroom been Braves-themed?
I’ve had my classroom like this since 2005 when I taught Reading in the Tate Building. I kept the same theme when I moved over to the Strange Building in 2015 and opened the school store, The Aggie Stable. I still teach some Reading, but most of my classes now are business classes called Customer Assistance I & II. These classes are meant to learn entrepreneurship and run the school store.
How did you feel when they won?
It was amazing because back in 1995, my oldest son Jamie (who was 2 years old at the time) my Aunt and myself were at game 6 in Atlanta when they won the last World Series, so it brought back all those awesome memories! Jamie who is now 28 years old worked for the Braves the last 6 years out of FSU but resigned 3 months ago to start law school at GA State. He and his wife live near Atlanta in Marietta and they were at Truist Park last night celebrating with all the employees!
Tell us more about baseball and your family?
Our youngest son, Jesse Sherrill, 21 years old, plays D1 baseball at Georgia Southern now in Statesboro, GA and he played here at Tate from 2014-2018. Our older 2 boys played here as well but Jesse is the only one still playing. The boys are Jamie age 28, Michael age 23 and Jesse age 21. Jamie was a pitcher at Tate from 2008-2011 and played 3 years of baseball. Michael was a pitcher at Tate from 2013-2016, played 4 years of baseball and went on to play a semester at PSC.
Tate teacher Sherry Sherrill is the wife of Northview High School Principal Mike Sherill.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bond Set For Century Capital Child Sexual Battery Suspect
November 4, 2021
Bond has been set for a Century man accused of the sexual battery of a minor child over a two-year period.
Michael Tracy Tedder, 29, was arrested Thursday on three counts of capital sexual battery of a victim under 12 by a person in familial custody. If convicted as charged, Tedder faces up to life in prison.
During a recent appearance, Tedder entered a plea of not guilty, and his bond was set at $3 million. He remains in the Escambia County Jail.
The victim disclosed at school that she had been raped by Tedder, according to an arrest report. She stated that it hurt, and about the time she healed, he would do it again, the report continues. The alleged abuse occurred between January 1, 2020, and October 20, 2021.
Much of the arrest report is redacted under Florida law, but it states “several (others) divulged sexual abuse by Michael Tedder. The incidents they described were similar to the sexual abuse disclosed, adding credibility to her statement.”
When the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office went to Tedder’s home on October 20 to investigate the sexual battery allegations, deputies found Tedder and three others living in squalor with six children in two campers.
They found Michael Tedder and his wife 28-year old Elizabeth Mae Dennis, along with 55-year old Norman Tracy Tedder and his wife 50-year old Tabitha Rolin Tedder. All four were charged with felony child neglect. Only Michael Tedder is accused of a sex crime; the other three have not been charged with any other crime or named as suspects.
The Department of Children and Families temporarily removed the children and transported them to the Gulf Coast Kids House.
For more information on the child neglect allegations, click or tap here for an earlier story.
Let The Miracle League Fry Your Thanksgiving Turkey
November 4, 2021
Now is the time to reserve your spot to have the Miracle League of Pensacola fry your Thanksgiving turkey.
A minimum of $30 per turkey or turkey breast is necessary to help cover costs, and any additional donation will benefit the Miracle League of Pensacola. The minimum charge is $35 for turkeys that are 20 pounds or more.
Call (850) 375-1577 with questions or to schedule your appointment (leave a message if no answer). Walk-ups are welcome, but reservations should be made early as the number of time slots is limited and appointments take priority.
There are a few things to remember after scheduling an appointment. Completely thaw your turkey, removing all of the inside packaging and giblets. Write down exactly how much your turkey weighs so it is fried perfectly and take it to the Miracle League Park at 555 East Nine Mile Road at your appointment time between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Wednesday, November 24. And be on time for your appointment.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle School Names Students Of The Month
November 4, 2021
Ransom Middle School has named their Students of the Month for September. They are Tam Tran (pictured above, left) and Drew Crutchfield (pictured above, right). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
