Escambia Search And Rescue Holding 60th Anniversary Open House Saturday
July 21, 2021
Escambia Search and Rescue will hold a 60 anniversary celebration and open house this Saturday.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at 9350 Nims Lane (north of East Nine Mile Road, behind Dollar General and Vannoy’s Tires).
An awards ceremony will be held at 11 a.m.
The public is invited to attend.
Blue Wahoos Drop Series Opener 4-1 To Montgomery Biscuits
July 21, 2021
While the Blue Wahoos were able to avoid being no-hit for the second time in eight games, they were unable to escape defeat as the dropped the series opener to the Biscuits 3-1 at Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium.
Tobias Myers turned in a career-best outing in which the right-hander pitched six perfect innings and struck out a career-high 12 batters.
Montgomery took the perfect game into the seventh, and it was until Peyton Burdick walked with one out before the Blue Wahoos had their first baserunner of the night.
Down 1-0, Pensacola still had to find a base0hit to avoid another no-hitter. Jordan Brink (W, 2-0) replaced Myers in the seventh and ran into trouble in the eighth inning. After striking out Demetrius Sims and Riley Mahan, Connor Justus battled a drew a two-out walk. The next batter, Galli Cribbs Jr., broke up the no-no with an RBI double to left to tie the game at 1-1.
However, Pensacola’s elation was short lived. Dylan Bice (L, 4-3) surrendered a two-run homer to Niko Hulsizer on an 0-2 pitch to give Montgomery a 3-1 lead. Chris Muller turned in a scoreless ninth inning for his 6th save of the year.
Griffin Conine—the son of Jeff Conine—made his Double-A debut for the Wahoos on Tuesday and finished the night 0-for-4 with four strikeouts. Matt Pobereyko also made his Blue Wahoos debut with a perfect sixth inning in which he struck out two.
Will Stewart made his 13th start of the year for the Blue Wahoos and churned out a solid performance. He allowed one run in five innings while scattering two hits and three walks. Stewart finished his night with five strikeouts and didn’t allow a base hit until the fifth inning.
The Wahoos and Biscuits will continue this series tomorrow night at 6:35 PM CT. RHP Max Meyer (4-1, 1.65) will take the hill for Pensacola and he will be opposed by RHP Jaden Murray.
CSX Train Derails Near McDavid; It’s Not A Public Safety Threat, But Environmental Cleanup To Follow
July 20, 2021
About two dozen cars of CSX train derailed in McDavid Monday night, but there was no reported danger to the public from the train’s cargo.
“We don’t have a public safety concern at this point, but it is going to be an environmental cleanup,” Escambia County interim Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore told NorthEcambia.com shortly before 1 a.m. Tuesday.
The derailment was reported about 10:35 p.m. north of the West Fraser Sawmill in McDavid. The southbound train engine came to a stop behind the sawmill, but the derailment was a mile north in a heavily wooded area about a mile east of Highway 29 (see map below).
A total of 25 cars derailed, including several tanker cars. Gilmore said one of the tanker cars contained molten sulfur, one contained liquid ammonium nitrate and at least two were empty but were previously loaded with molten phenol. Several hopper cars containing lime also derailed. The remainder contained other types of nonhazardous products or were empty.
“Three of the cars spilled some limestone rock adjacent to the tracks. No hazardous materials were released as a result of this incident,” CSX told NorthEscambia.com in an email Tuesday morning.
“The ECFR hazmat team conducted a visual inspection of the derailment and then utilized monitoring equipment to take air samples to determine if there was any immediate threat to public safety, the derailment was determined as a nonimmediate life threat,” Escambia Fire Rescue said in a statement.
“CSX is working closely with Escambia County first responders and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Initial reports indicate there is no public health threat. Crews are on site clearing the tracks of the derailed cars and working to restore the area,” CSX said. “The safety of the community and everyone on site is our top priority as we develop a recovery plan.”
Gilmore described the derailment scene as a “total pileup” with railcars on top of each other and destroyed track. Fire responders, including an Escambia Fire Rescue hazmat team, were able to access the derailment from each end, but not able to reach the middle of the site in the dark.
Due to the remote area of the site with no nearby roads, it took first responders about 45 minutes to locate and reach the area of derailment using a UTV and four-wheel drive vehicles on dirt hunting camp roads.
There were no injuries reported.
CSX said the train was headed from Nashville to Pensacola. The exact cause of the derailment remains under investigation.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
Church Youth Director Accused Of Hiding Camera In Church Bathroom Facing More Charges
July 20, 2021
Additional charges have been filed against the former Calvary Baptist Church youth director accused of video recording people inside a restroom.
David Patrick Nims, 37, was arrested on eight additional counts of video voyeurism. He remain in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $80,000.
Nims was first arrested June 7 after a hidden video surveillance camera was found in a church bathroom. In one video, investigators said Nims could be seen in a video clip placing the camera in the restroom, and his face could clearly be seen as he adjusted the camera.
The sheriff’s office also served a search warrant at Nims’ home in the 7400 block of Hidden Valley Road as part of their investigation and seized multiple electronic items.
Nimes was arrested again on June 11, charged with possession of child pornography. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said a laptop containing more than 100 child pornography files discovered. Investigators said none of the child victims in the files appear to have a local connection but instead it appeared the images were downloaded from the internet. ECSO said some of the files from the internet depicted children under five being sexually battered.
His latest arrest stems from that search warrant, and storage devices were found to contain videos of eight people, at least three of which were juveniles, according to ECSO. The file timestamps indicated the videos were made on March 12 and March 27. They were allegedly taken at the church, his home and his wife’s employer.
Two Escambia Men Sentenced To Prison For Part In 2019 Car Burglary Ring
July 20, 2021
Two Escambia County man have been sentenced to prison for their part in car burglary ring in October 2019.
They allegedly went to several residential areas to steal and burglarize multiple vehicles.
Jacquavious Lamar Savage, 20, entered a no contest plea in six case involving 11 felonies and two misdemeanors, including grand theft of a firearm, grand theft auto, burglary of unoccupied conveyance, attempted burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, grand theft and petit theft. He was sentenced to 15 years in state prison to be followed by 10 years probation.
Between October 27, 2019, and October 30, 2019, Savage burglarized four cars, attempted to burglarize a fifth car, stole three cars, stole a firearm, and took various other property items from the cars.
Deonte Eric Brown, 18, was sentenced to 10 years in prison to be followed by 10 years probation. He entered a no contest plea in 11 cases, including grand theft of a firearm, grand theft auto, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, grant theft, petit theft and fraudulent use of a credit card.
Between October 18, 2019 and October 31, 2019, Brown allegedly stole three firearms, six cars, burglarized nine cars, stole various items from the cars, and used a credit card that was stolen from one of the vehicles.
Pictured: Jacquavious Lamar Savage (left) and Deonte Eric Brown (right).
Cantonment Wendy’s Manager Named As One Of The Best In The Nation
July 20, 2021
The general manager at a Cantonment Wendy’s restaurant has been recognized as one of the best in the nation.
Regina Cohron at the Wendy’s on New Market Street, just off Nine Mile Road in the Milestone area, has been recognized as one of the Top 500 General Managers for 2020 by The Wendy’s Company.
“Regina is a true leader and so deserved of this recognition; she is respected and beloved by her team and guests,” said Brian McDaniel, senior vice president for Carlisle, franchisee of The Wendy’s Company. McDaniel added “Regina is one of 21 Wendy’s restaurant general managers with Carlisle that were selected in the Top 500 for 2020. All 21 of these individuals represent the very best of Wendy’s and Carlisle.”
General managers from the entire Wendy’s global network of more than 6,700 restaurants were evaluated against set criteria, such as customer satisfaction scores and customer count growth. The Top 500 were selected by a committee comprised of franchisee and company leadership.
Century To Discuss Facility Rental Policies At Thursday Meeting
July 20, 2021
The Century Town Council will hold a workshop meeting Thursday afternoon to discuss policies and procedures for the rental of town building and facilities.
The town’s community centers, splash pad pavilion and other facilities have been closed for rental since last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The council will discuss rental policies, fees, and other items such as the requirement for an off-duty Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy at some events. The meeting will held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Century Town Hall.
Pictured. A meeting inside the Century Community Center on West Highway 4, also known as the Ag Building. The facility has a capacity of about 300 people and has a kitchen. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Puts Proposed Budget Online In Interactive Format
July 20, 2021
For the first time, Escambia County has published their proposed budget for 2021-2022 online in an interactive format.
The total combined proposed budget is $568,262,165, down from $587,933,284 in the current fiscal year.
Budgets for the constitutional officers:
- Sheriff – increases from $65.8 million to $72.7 million
- Property Appraiser - increases from $6.5 million to $6.9 million
- Supervisor of Elections – increases from $2.65 million to $2.76 million
- Tax Collector – increases from $5.2 million to $5.5 million
- Clerk of the Court – decreases from $3.6 million to $3.53 million
Escambia County will hold two budget workshops this week.
Cantonment Man, Gulf Breeze Woman Charged With Meth Trafficking
July 19, 2021
A Cantonment man and a Gulf Breeze woman are facing charges for allegedly trafficking in methamphetamine.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Home Depot on Mobile Highway to recover a stolen vehicle. A woman, identified as 25-year old Sarah Jordan Cox, was near the vehicle and walked to a nearby Black Dodge Ram occupied by 31-year old Jerry Allen Lilly, according to an arrest report.
An ECSO K-9 alerted on both vehicles. Deputies reporting recovering a total of 64.69 grams of methamphetamine, 5.20 grams of marijuana, and assorted drug paraphernalia from the vehicles.
Lilly was charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released from the Escambia County jail on $73,500 bond.
Cox was charged with trafficking methamphetamine over 40 grams, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia, She was released from jail on a $51,000 bond.
It’s Budget Time: Escambia County, Century Beginning Budget Workshops
July 19, 2021
Both Escambia County and Century are moving into the process of establishing their budgets and tax rates for the upcoming fiscal year.
Escambia County will hold their first budget workshop on Tuesday, July 20 at 9 a.m. Escambia County has made preliminary budget information available online here.
The Town of Century will hold their first budget workshop on Thursday, July 29 at 5:30 p.m. No preliminary budget information has been made available as of yet.
The new fiscal year begins October 1, 2021, for both entities.