Boil Water Notice Lifted For Beulah Road Area, River Annex Road
August 19, 2021
A boil water notice that was issued Thursday has been lifted for the Beulah Road and River Annex Road areas.
The advisory was issued following a water main repair Thursday on River Annex Road at Muscogee Road for Farm Hill Utilities customers on Beulah Road, all sides roads off Beulah Road, along with the 100 and 200 blocks of River Annex Road.
Tests show the water is now safe to drink, according to Farm Hill Utilities.
The water main repair closed River Annex Road at Muscogee Road most of the day Thursday.
Escambia County Spokesperson Laura Coale Resigns; Three New PR Employees Hired
August 19, 2021
Escambia County Director for Communications and Public Information Laura Coale has resigned, and the county has hired three new public information staffers.
“I am very grateful to have served as the director for communications and public information at Escambia County. I am diligently training the new employees to ensure a smooth transition, and there are plans in place for additional crisis communications support if needed,” Coale wrote in an email to Interim County Administrator Wes Moreno.
Coale’s last day on the job will be October 1. She was hired in late 2019 by former administrator Janice Gilley.
The three new public information employees, filling previous vacant positions, are:
- Davis Wood, public information and education officer for Public Safety (He was previously on air at NewsRadio 92.3/1620 as “Davis Allen”.)
- Andie Gibson, media and public information manager
- Sarah Stanford, multimedia communications specialist for the library system
Former Sheriff Morgan Repays $37,500 For Statue Of Himself Bought With Taxpayer Money
August 19, 2021
Former Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan spent tens of thousands of dollars on a life-size bronze statue of himself before leaving office last year. And now Morgan has reimbursed the ECSO $37.500.
Morgan used $75,000 in taxpayer funds for statues from a New York state company. One was of Morgan in his sheriff’s uniform, complete with Air Force medals, while standing and saluting. The second was of former Escambia County Lt. Jason Potts and his K-9. They were ordered in April 2020, before Morgan left office. Two checks were written to cover the bill, one in April 2020 and the other in August 2020.
Morgan reportedly planned to place his 6-foot-4-inch statue on display near a fallen officer memorial in front of the Sheriff’s Office.
Current Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said Wednesday that Morgan’s statue will not see the light of day.
“I have no intention of putting the statue of the former sheriff here in front of this building or anywhere in this building,” Simmons said.
You don’t typically make a statue of yourself, and have the taxpayers pay for it,” Simmons added. “I think it’s a bit of a waste of money. That’s why I tried to cancel it whenever I first found it. I think it’s a bit brash. I think it has an air of narcissism to it.”
The name tag has been removed from the statue of Potts will his K-9. With it’s generic appearance as a deputy and K-9, it may still be used somewhere at the ECSO>
But Morgan’s statue will remain in storage.
“Maybe we can melt it down and make use of it. But at this point that statue is not going to be erected here at the Escambia Co. Sheriff’s Office,” Simmons said.
Thursday, Morgan reimbursed ECSO general fund for the cost of his statue using a cashier’s check.
Images via WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com. Click to enlarge.
ECUA Suspends All Bulk Waste Collections For This Week Due To Driver Shortage
August 19, 2021
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority has suspended all bulk waste collections due a driver shortage.
“Like many other organizations across the country, ECUA is experiencing staffing shortages among our sanitation collection crews, maintenance staff, and with our CDL drivers, which have been affecting our operations intermittently,” ECUA Public Information Office Nathalie Bowers said in a news release.
Bulk waste includes items such as couches, mattresses, desks and chairs. The bulk waste collections will remain suspended the rest of the week. ECUA is also not accepting any new extra sanitation pick up orders (above the usual weekly allowable limit) for bulk items until the current extra bulk waste collections are completed.
Collections for garbage, yard waste and recyclables remain on their normal schedules although ECUA said some routes may run behind schedule.
“If any waste collections are missed, it is likely that the truck did not finish its daily route and will complete its route the next day. All collections will be caught up by Saturday, and we appreciate everyone’s understanding as we work through the greater-than-normal collection volumes and staffing issues,” Bowers said.
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Funeral Services Set For Molino’s Coach Donnie Nicholson
August 19, 2021
Funeral services are set for longtime Molino Ballpark softball coach Donnie Nicholson who passed away last Sunday due to COVID-19.
Coach Donnie and his wife Jackie were an integral part of softball at the Molino Ballpark and area travel ball for many years.
Visitation will be held Friday, August 20 from 5-7 p.m. at Faith Chapel North. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 21 at 10 a.m. at Aldersgate Cemetery (behind Highland Baptist Church).
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to either the girls softball program at the Molino Ballpark or to Aldersgate United Methodist Church.
For the complete obituary, click or tap here.
Molino Man Charge With Trying To Run Over Woman, Fleeing From Deputies
August 19, 2021
A Molino man allegedly assaulted a woman by attempting to run over her before fleeing from sheriff’s deputies.
Brian Lamar Dukes, 41, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, fleeing and eluding, and resisting arrest without violence.
The incident occurred at the Forest Creek Apartments on Patton Drive. A female called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and stated that a black male in a dark colored SUV was attempting to murder her.
When deputies arrived, they observed a black 2001 Chevrolet Suburban matching the description of the offending vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. The driver fled at a high rate of speed, and the traffic stop was canceled.
The victim stated she was walking from her apartment to her car when Dukes backed his vehicle up toward her at a high rate of speed. She state, “I just knew he was about to kill me with his car”, according to an arrest report.
A deputy observed Dukes’ SUV on Gulf Beach Highway and attempted a traffic stop, but Dukes fled at a high rate of speed. The pursuit ended when Dukes drove into a ditch in front of the Perdido Bay Emergency Room. He ran, but deputies quickly caught up with him, took him to the ground and placed him under arrest, the reported continues.
The report states he was irate and sweating profusely when he stated that he had consume alcohol, spice and cocaine.
Dukes was released from the Escambia County Jail on an $11,000 bond.
Final Nine Mile Road Paving Work Ongoing Between Beulah Road, Untreiner Avenue
August 19, 2021
Crews are continuing to place the final friction layer of asphalt on Nine Mile Road between Beulah Road and Untreiner Avenue in Escambia County.
Weather permitting, paving crews will continue to work at night, between the hours of 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., to place the remaining asphalt in this section. Crews anticipate finishing paving work later this month.
Pictured: The new friction layer of pavement for the westbound inside travel lane and turn lane near Home Depot. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bleday Drills Walk-Off Double In 13th Inning Marathon Victory
August 19, 2021
JJ Bleday lined an RBI double off the right-field wall in the bottom of the 13th off J.T. Hintzen (L, 4-2), which gave the Wahoos a 4-3 win on Wednesday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
After both teams scored in the 10th inning, both Biloxi and Pensacola squandered an abundance of chances before Bleday’s game-winning one-out double. In the 11th, the Blue Wahoos had runners and first and second with nobody out. However, Hintzen—who was in his first inning of work—struck out the following three batters in a row to end the inning.
After Alberto Guerrero pitched a scoreless 12th inning, the Blue Wahoos again failed to take advantage of the runner beginning on second. Pensacola had a failed bunt attempt before a line out and a ground ended their chances in the inning. Meanwhile, Biloxi quite literally ran themselves out of the inning in the top of the 13th. After a leadoff single from David Hamilton set up the Shuckers with runners on first and third and nobody out, the Shuckers ran into a bizarre double play.
With Hamilton running on the pitch, Mitch Longo hit a shallow fly to left field that was not deep enough to score Korry Howell from third base. Apparently, Hamilton on his was to second touched the bag, but failed to re-touch second base on his way to first. After an appeal, Hamilton was ruled out, which left only Howell at third with two outs. Guillen got a groundout to third on the next pitch, which set up the Wahoos for the walk-off in thr 13th.
None of the would have been possible had it not been for Brian Navarreto. In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Blue Wahoos were trailing 2-1 with Zack Brown on the mound for Biloxi. After a leadoff walk to Jerar Encarnacion, Pensacola had the winning run in Navarreto at the plate. Unfortunately, Encarnacion was thrown out trying to steal second just a few pitched prior to Navarreto belting a home run to left, which only tied the game at 2-2. Prior to the ninth, the Wahoos had only scored in the first after Bleday doubled, Peyton Burdick singled, and Griffin Conine hit into a double play, which brought home Bleday.
Max Meyer made his 17th start of the year for the Blue Wahoos and allowed two runs in six innings. Meyer walked only one batter and struck out four, and only required 58 pitches to get through six innings. His ERA in now down to 1.97, which is the lowest in all of professional baseball.
The bullpen was sensation again for Pensacola. Andrew McInvale continued to shine in his newly rediscovered form. The right-hander worked 1.1 innings and struck out four. Jefry Yan also pitched 1.2 innings of shutout ball for Pensacola. Guerrero turned in a season-long three innings without allowing a hit and allowed only one unearned run in the top of the 10th inning while striking out five. Alexander Guillen (W, 1-1) pitched the thirteenth, earning his first win as a Blue Wahoo.
Eight Arrested, Two Wanted For Catalytic Converter Thefts In Escambia County
August 18, 2021
Eight people have been arrested, and at least two more are wanted, in connection with the theft of about 50 catalytic converter thefts.
The 10 suspects were identified over the past eight months.
Those arrested are:
– Kevin Duane Opry, 36, Pensacola
– Edward Edward Boyd, 53, Pensacola
– Kerry Eugene Dickerson, 32, Pensacola
– Jared Gabriel Dragon, 21, homeless
– Da’Kurynin Jasean Powers, 27, Pensacola
– Richard George Holt, 52, Milton
– Joseph Wilson, 41, Cantonment
– Charles Kettering, 44, Cantonment
The two suspects still wanted are:
- Ana Marie Redd-Manulat, 30
- Michael Griffin, Jr., 23
“The number of reported catalytic converter thefts is over 300. Thieves crawl under vehicles and cut out the catalytic converter,” the ECSO said. “This has become a serious issue, and with the volume of reports, the ECSO anticipates more arrests and additional charges.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
‘I Died Doing Something Meaningful’ – Gold Star Mom Reflects On 10th Anniversary Of The Death Of LCpl. Travis M. Nelson In Afghanistan
August 18, 2021
Today marks the 10 year anniversary of the death of local LCpl. Travis M. Nelson, who gave his life in Afghanistan on August 18, 2011.
Tuesday evening, Gold Star Mom Beckie Nelson spoke with NorthEscambia.com about the last 10 years, her son’s sacrifice in Afghanistan and the Taliban’s recent takeover.
I Died Doing Something Meaningful.
And she shared with us a short, simple note LCpl Travis Nelson left behind in his field book just in case he did not return.
“Dear friends & family, If your reading this it seems I didn’t get to come home. I love each and every one of you and I want you to know I have no regrets. I died doing something meaningful.”
He died a few short weeks after writing that note.
Beckie Nelson clings to those words that provided her peace and understanding.
“We received Travis’ belongings weeks after the funeral. The emotions we felt as we opened the trunk are unexplainable. Still in disbelief, our hearts still in pieces, it was gut wrenching to say the least. When I saw this page I closed the book, laid down on his bed with it in my arms and I actually slept for the first time in weeks.”
Not For Nothing.
“It was years before I opened it again and even now as I see it, and with the crisis in Afghanistan today, it’s like I know without a doubt his sacrifice, his loyalty to his Marine brothers and their mission, was ‘not for nothing’. It was a huge ’something’ to Travis and those beside him.”
“I have such mixed emotions. We’ve known that we had to bring our troops home; that was inevitable. They had to come home,” she said. “I do feel bad about the administration now and the way it was handled, pulling them out without a plan. It’s just such a hard time right now.”
“It’s not for nothing. They did what they went there to do in training the Afghan people to hold their own. For Travis and others, it was their loyalty to country and service. I felt like his mission, their mission, accomplished so much. I definitely don’t think it was in vain.”
Growing Up With A Promise To His Mother
A young Travis Nelson grew up in Bratt, just two doors down from the modern day Travis M. Nelson Park that was named in his memory about a year after its 2010 opening.
He would play on those very grounds, shooting his BB gun and riding his go cart. His first love in his young life was fishing. At four years old, he would spend hours with relatives fishing on the Escambia River. No matter how old he got, he never gave up the love for a fishing pole and hook. He also loved playing baseball at Northwest Escambia’s Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill.
On Sept., 11, 2001, Travis Nelson was nine years old when America was attacked. He was not playing; he was fixated on the news.
And he made a promise that day. The kind of promise to a mother than a young man will do anything to uphold.
“I’ll never forget him saying ‘Momma, I will protect you. I will be soldier’,” Beckie Nelson said.
The family last saw Travis on July 13, 2011, as he deployed for Afghanistan. Their last phone conversation was Monday, August, 15, 2011, as he requested items for a care package.
That care package was still sitting by the front door three days later. It never made it to the mail.
August 18, 2011.
It was about noon on Thursday, August 18, 2011, at the Nelson home in Bratt.
An American flag fluttered in the breeze on the porch.
And three men in military uniforms stood at the door. Beckie Nelson knew what that meant.
“I just screamed and said no,” she said. “I just went to my knees and said don’t let them come in. I knew right away that he was gone.”
My Biggest Fear
The next day, Beckie Nelson sat in the middle of her bed with a laptop, reading the scores of reader comments on a NorthEscambia.com story about Travis Nelson’s death.
“He really was our hero,” she said, clutching a 5×7 photo of her son.
“I didn’t think I could see past that day. I felt like it would always be that day. I didn’t imagine that I could ever talk about it,” she said Tuesday evening. “But I can, and it has to do with the support groups, the military support groups, and the community support.”
She was remarkably strong as she talked about the heart wrenching pain of that day.
But during our interview, her voice broke.
“My biggest fear,” she said before pausing. “My biggest fear was that Travis would be forgotten. I was scared I was going to forget.”
A Fallen Marine Returns.
LCpl. Travis M. Nelson was never forgotten.
The rain poured down at Pensacola Naval Air Station August 24, 2011, as Nelson’s body arrived on the final leg of his journey home.
Outside the main gate of Pensacola NAS, people gathered to pay their respects to the young soldier. The rain did not send them running; they stood silently — many holding American flags — as the hearse carrying an American hero departed on a 55-mile journey to Atmore.
Along the way, some of Pensacola’s busiest roadways came to a complete standstill as the motorcade passed. Many motorists stood outside their vehicles and paid their respects.
In Walnut Hill, just a few miles from Nelson’s boyhood home in Bratt, the motorcade slowed as it approached Ernest Ward Middle School. Nelson was a Golden Eagle, attending Ernest Ward in the sixth and seventh grades.
Hundreds of Ernest Ward Middle School students and teachers dressed in red, white and blue lined Highway 97, American flags in hand, waiting for the arrival of the motorcade.
Several of Nelson’s middle school teachers were among the crowd that suddenly grew silent as the first sirens could be heard. As the procession passed, the students stood with their hands over their hearts, waving Old Glory. The thunder of 127 Patriot Guard motorcycle riders vibrated the ground and echoed across the country fields near the school.
Six Florida Highway Patrol trooper vehicles led the hearse past the school. Many students and teachers broke down in tears at the sight of a flag draped coffin. Others cried as they made eye contact with Nelson’s parents and their daughter — who was a sixth grader at Ernest Ward at the time.
“I look back at those pictures now,” Beckie Nelson said Tuesday evening. “Those pictures from the middle school. It meant so much. Those kids are now fathers, mothers, some are now serving in the military.”
My Travis.
“Travis knew at nine years old that nothing was going to hold him back. That was his heart’s desire,” Beckie Nelson said 10 years later. “That’s what he wanted to do with his life.”
“God had a greater plan for my Travis.”
Above: NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
