Escambia County Apartment Fire Displaces 37 People, Destroys 16 Units
July 16, 2021
About three dozen people were left without a home after fire ripped through an Escambia County apartment complex overnight.
The three-alarm fire was reported about 12:18 a.m. at the Peachtree Commons Apartments on Twin Oak Drive, off New Warrington Road.
All 16 apartments in one building were damaged, displacing 37 occupants, according to Escambia County. No occupants were injured, but two firefighters were treated on scene and released. One was related to heat stress and fatigue and the other was struck by falling ceiling debris. One at was located and rescued during the search.
“Smoke alarms were present and operated allowing most residents to self-evacuate,” said Escambia County spokesperson Laura Coale.
The American Red Cross is assisting, and the Florida Bureau of Fire and Arson was called in to investigate the cause.
“Upon arrival, heavy smoke and flames were visible from the second story end unit of a two-story wood frame apartment. The fire was already in the attic and void space of three additional units upon arrival. Firefighters had the fire under control at 4:28 a.m. The total scene time for the first alarm assignment was nearly six hours,” Coale said.
“Initial companies arrived within five minutes of the initial dispatch, crews and performed a rapid interior fire attack and search. Advanced fire conditions and challenges with the building construction (double roof and numerous voids) caused the initial quick knockdown and progress to be lost eventually causing heavy fire damage to the entire 2nd floor with significant water damage to the entire first floor. Rapid search and evacuation procedures prevented any civilian injuries, and crews spent a great deal of time during overhaul salvaging and returning important items to the occupants,” according to Escambia County.
Charter Review Committee Votes To Change Century’s Form Of Government
July 16, 2021
The Century Charter Review Committee decided Thursday that the town’s form of government needs to be changed, transferring most of the mayor’s powers to a city manager.
The committee is tasked with updating the charter — the document that legally establishes the town, outlines its powers and spells out how it should operate. The committee has meet periodically since October 2019, and Thursday evening was the first formal vote taken.
On a motion by Michelle Cunningham, the committee voted 5-0 that a charter rewrite would form a city manager — council form of government, making the elected mayor a weak position, perhaps mostly a figurehead.
The city manager would control the day to day operations of the town, and the town council would continue to pass ordinances, resolutions and take care of other town business. The exact duties of the mayor will not become clear until the charter review committee moves forward with their work.
Chairperson Mary Hudson Bourgeois said it was time for the committee to make the crucial decision on a new form of government in order to move forward with the charter updates.
“We need to know where we are going, what direction, so we can start putting the pieces together,” she said. “This give us the opportunity to start working on the duties of each.”
At their next meeting, the charter review committee will look at the duties for the city manager, council and mayor.
The committee will then move forward with rewriting the charter. Once they are done, it will go before the town council before ultimately going on the ballot for a vote by Century residents.
Unless approved by voters, none of the committee’s actions will actually be implemented.
Pictured top: Century Charter Review Committee member Michelle Cunningham made a motion Thursday change Century’s form a government. Pictured below: Committee member Brenda Spencer listens to the discussion. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Three Area Residents Indicted As Members Of A White Supremacist Gang For Violent Crimes In Aid Of Racketeering
July 16, 2021
Three Escambia and Santa Rosa County residents were among members of a white supremacist gang indicted for violent crimes in aid of racketeering, according to federal indictments unsealed Thursday.
According to the indictment, the defendants were members of Unforgiven, a racketeering enterprise engaged in acts of murder, violence, kidnapping, robbery, obstruction of justice, and other offenses. The indictment also alleges that Unforgiven used “corrupt law enforcement officers and state employees” to gather information about people, investigations, and prosecutions, and to smuggle contraband to incarcerated inmates. The indictment charges each of the 16 defendants with committing at least one violent act in aid of Unforgiven, including kidnappings, conspiracies to commit assault, threats of violence, and assaults with deadly weapons.
Maverick Maher (aka “Saxon”), age 39 of Pensacola, was charged with assault in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering activity, and multiple counts of threats of violence in aid of racketeering activity.
George Andrews II (aka “Shrek”), age 51 of Pensacola, was charged with assault in aid of racketeering, and conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering activity
Brandon Welch (aka “Scumbag”), age 34 of Milton, was charged with assault in aid of racketeering.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the St. Petersburg Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Natalie Hirt Adams.
District 5 Quintette Neighborhood Cleanup Collects 24 Tons of Debris
July 16, 2021
Escambia County collected and disposed of approximately 24 tons (48,000 pounds) of debris during the District 5 Quintette Neighborhood Cleanup recently, as part of the county’s ongoing effort to help keep local neighborhoods and communities clean and safe. The event allowed residents to leave items at the curb to be disposed of free of charge by the county and partnering agencies.
The cleanup on July 7 resulted in collection of 24.7 tons of debris, 400 pounds of household hazardous waste and more than 101 tires placed at curbside for pickup.
The neighborhood cleanup initiative involves an aggressive clean-up effort, targeting different neighborhoods throughout the county, with crew members picking up a variety of debris and waste, including electronics, furniture and household items. Since 2016, more than 3,259 tons (6,518,000 pounds) of debris were collected and disposed of through the Community Redevelopment Agency’s Safe Neighborhood Program.
The county’s neighborhood cleanup program is hosted by the Escambia County Community Redevelopment Agency’s Safe Neighborhood Program. Local partners include Escambia County Waste Services, Environmental Code Enforcement, Public Works, Animal Services and Road Prison, along with the City of Pensacola Sanitation Department.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Woman Gets 25 Years For Hot Vehicle Death Of Her 2-Year Old Child
July 16, 2021
An Escambia County woman was sentenced to 25 years in state prison Thursday for the hot car death of her child. The child spent about nine hours in the vehicle.
Jessica Lynn Monell, 38, entered a plea of no contest to aggravated manslaughter of a child and child neglect. She previously entered no contest pleas to multiple charges involving possession of controlled substances and paraphernalia.
On April 10, 2019, Monell’s two-year-old child was found deceased in Monell’s van parked outside the home. The subsequent investigation revealed that Monell had ingested methamphetamine and forgot to remove her child from the van. The child was strapped in her car seat from approximately 6 a.m. until 3 p.m.
The medical examiner determined that the child’s cause of death was hyperthermia. At the scene, Monell consented to a blood draw and methamphetamine was found in her blood.
A search warrant was executed on the home and various drugs and paraphernalia were found. The child’s autopsy report revealed that the child had a trace amount of methamphetamine in her system as well.
Mission Outreach: Church Takes VBS To Century Park (With Gallery)
July 16, 2021
Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in Bogia took their “Mystery Island’ Vacation Bible School on the road to a park in Century Thursday afternoon as missions outreach.
They invited neighborhood children to take part in music, Bible stories and more while at the Nadine McCaw Park on North Century Boulevard.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cribbs Delivers In The Clutch; Wahoos Walk-Off Lookouts 2-1
July 16, 2021
Tied 1-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Devin Hairston doubled before Galli Cribbs lined the game-winning single to left to give Pensacola a thrilling 2-1 walk-off win against the Lookouts on Thursday.
Hairston wasted no time in the ninth and he ground the first pitch he saw from Matt Pidich (L, 2-4) just inside the left field line for a leadoff double. That brought up Cribbs, who initially was trying to lay down a sac bunt. However, after a couple of pitches—and the corner infielders crashing aggressively—Cribbs laced a line drive into left-center that allowed Hairston to score the winning run from second. That base hit gave Pensacola their seventh walk-off win in 32 games at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Unlike the first couple of games in the series, neither side was able to generate much offense. For Chattanooga, their only run came from a solo homer against Max Meyer in the top of the third. Outside of that pitch, Meyer was excellent in his first outing since participating in the Futures Game in Denver. The Marlins #3 prospect ultimately worked six innings and allowed four hits while walking one and striking out four. It also was his third quality start of the season.
Chattanooga starter Ricky Salinas was even better for the Lookouts as he worked 5.2 shutout innings, scattering seven hits while tying his season high with eight strikeouts.
The Wahoos bullpen again rose to the occasion late in the game. Alberto Guerrero entered the game in the seventh and delivered two shutout innings. Dylan Bice (W, 4-1) replaced him in the ninth, and despite a leadoff walk, and runners on the corners with only one out, managed to escape trouble without conceding a run.
With the win, and Mississippi’s 10-2 loss to the Smokies, the Wahoos are now three games back of the M-Braves for the best record in the league.
The series continues tomorrow with LHP Jake Eder (3-2, 1.33) taking the hill for Pensacola. Chattanooga is using the combination of RHP Mac Sceroler (1-0, 1.50) and RHP Dylan Baker (0-0, 9.00).
Firefighters Battle Blaze At ECUA Recycling Center In Beulah
July 15, 2021
The Emerald Coast Utility Authority’s recycling facility was damaged by fire Thursday afternoon, but the extent of the damage remains to be seen.
The fire was reported about 5:10 at the ECUA Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) located at the Perdido Landfill in Beulah.
“The fire appears to have been located in the chute of the metal sorting area. Initial indications point to the possibility of a propane tank or battery, mixed in with the metal recyclables, as the potential source of the fire. An investigation as to the cause of the fire is ongoing,” ECUA spokesperson Nathalie Bowers told NorthEscambia.com. At the time, ECUA staff and fire officials were waiting for the smoke to clear to fully evaluate the damage to the MRF.
The visible fire was knocked down after 30 minutes, and there no injuries reported, according to Escambia County spokesperson Laura Coale.
“There is currently no impact to recycling collections for tomorrow and they remain on the normal schedule. Updates will be released as information becomes available,” Bowers said.
At about 8 p.m., firefighters were working to cool a hot spot and expected to remain on scene at couple more hours.
The Bellview, Ensley, Beulah, Ferry Pass and Osceola stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, NAS Pensacola Fire, and Escambia County EMS responded.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Sentenced To State Prison For Molesting Young Girl
July 15, 2021
A now 79-year old Molino man has been sentenced to five years in state prison for sexually molesting a young girl over the course of several years.
Daniel Durwood Edmonson was charged in July 2019 with sexual battery on a victim under 12-years old and lewd and lascivious molestation on a victim under age 12.
Edmonson was also sentenced to 20 years of sexual offender probation upon release, and he was designated as a sexual predator.
At age 15, the girl disclosed the abuse by Edmonson to investigators. She said Edmonson had molested her for years at his residence, when she was between the ages of 5 and 12. Edmonson and the girl were related, according to court documents.
Woman, Two Dogs Rescued From Rising Floodwaters At Bluff Springs Recreation Area
July 15, 2021
A woman and her dogs were rescued from rising floodwaters Thursday afternoon in the Bluff Springs Recreation Area.
The Fort Walton Beach woman said she had been camping next to one of the gravel lakes for the past three or four days. By Thursday, the water was too deep for her to leave with her dogs or get her vehicle out.
Using a boat belonging to an area resident, Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office were able to reach the woman and bring her back to dry land. The ECSO was working to assist the woman with a place to stay and transportation.
The woman and her dogs were not injured.
“I’m just glad you helped us,” she told her rescuers.
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