Reports Of Armed Gunman At NAS Pensacola Were False Alarm
March 13, 2021
911 calls about a suspected armed gunman aboard NAS Pensacola Saturday afternoon were a false alarm.
Authorities said the person was holding what appeared to be a rifle, but it actually was a wooden rifle being used in honor guard practice.
After the 911 call, there was a large response from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Escambia County EMS to the base. Navy Security Forces also responded.
Both gates to the base were also closed during the incident. They have now been reopened.
Local Governments To Share In Millions From American Rescue Plan
March 13, 2021
Local governments in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties will receive funds from the American Rescue Plan.
The money will be distributed as follows:
- Escambia County — $61.7 million
- Pensacola — $19.1 million
- Century — $780,000
- Santa Rosa County — $35.7 million
- Milton — $4.4 millon
- Gulf Breeze — $2.9 million
- Jay $270,000
According to the the bill, the funds can be used:
- to respond to the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) or its negative economic impacts, including assistance to households, small businesses, and nonprofits, or aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality;
- to respond to workers performing essential work during the COVID–19 public health emergency by providing premium pay to eligible workers of the State, territory, or Tribal government that are performing such essential work, or by providing grants to eligible employers that have eligible workers who perform essential work;
- for the provision of government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue of such State, territory, or Tribal government due to the COVID–19 public health emergency relative to revenues collected in the most recent full fiscal year of the State, territory, or Tribal government prior to the emergency; or
- to make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.
Each local government will receive half of the funds this year and the other half within a year of their first payment. The deadline to spend the money won’t be until 2024.
President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan into law Thursday, providing $1.9 trillion in COVID-19 stimulus money.
Rubio, Scott Want To Keep U.S. On Daylight Savings Time
March 13, 2021
U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott from Florida have joined six others to reintroduce the Sunshine Protection Act, legislation that would make Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent across the country.
The bill reflects the Florida legislature’s 2018 enactment of year-round daylight time; however, for Florida’s change to apply, a change in the federal statute is required. Fifteen other states — Arkansas, Alabama, California, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming — have passed similar laws, resolutions or voter initiatives.
The legislation, if enacted, would apply to those states who currently participate in DST, which most states observe for eight months out of the year. Standard Time, from November to March, is only observed for four months out of the year. The bill would simply negate the need for Americans to change their clocks twice a year. Many studies have shown that making DST permanent could benefit the economy and the country.
“The call to end the antiquated practice of clock changing is gaining momentum throughout the nation,” Rubio said. “Studies have shown many benefits of a year-round Daylight Saving Time, which is why the Florida legislature voted to make it permanent in 2018. I’m proud to reintroduce this bipartisan bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, and give our nation’s families more stability throughout the year.”
“As Governor of Florida, I was proud to sign legislation to make Daylight Saving Time permanent and I am continuing this effort in the Senate with my colleague, Senator Rubio. Americans could use a little more sunshine after a long winter and an entire year of staying indoors amid the coronavirus pandemic,” Scott said. “As our state works to fully reopen and bring visitors back safely, this legislation will give families more time to enjoy all that Florida has to offer.”
Year-round DST would reduce car crashes, reduce crime, improve physical fitness, reduce energy use and benefit agriculture, according to the bill sponsors.
Escambia Man Gets 10 Years For Burglaries, Vehicle Thefts
March 13, 2021
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to a decade in prison for auto theft and burglary.
Circuit Judge Coleman Robinson sentenced 20-year old Kody Allen Gresh to 10 years in state prison.
Gresh was sentenced following a plea of no contest in seven cases. He pleaded to grand theft auto, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, and petit theft.
“These cases arose from a pattern of criminal conduct Gresh committed during October 2019, in which Gresh and his co-defendants went to residential areas to steal and burglarize multiple vehicles,” State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden said.
Between October 7, 2019, and October 24, 2019, Gresh stole four vehicles and burglarized three, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
Escambia Man Convicted Of Drug Trafficking Faces Up To 70 Years In Prison
March 13, 2021
An Escambia County man is facing up to 70 years in prison after being convicted on multiple drug charges.
Jerrel Lamar Leverette, 38, was convicted of trafficking in meth (200 or grams or more), trafficking in heroin (28 grams or more but less than 30 kilograms), possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl), possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He will be sentenced on April 1. He faces up to 70 years in prison with a 25-year, minimum-mandatory prison sentence on the trafficking in heroin charge and a 15-year, minimum-mandatory prison sentence on the meth trafficking charge.
On October 30, 2018, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Leverette’s residence in the 800 block of Madison Drive. Deputies located approximately 7.5 pounds of methamphetamine along with a large amount of heroin mixed with fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine. The drugs were located hidden in the attic access in Leverette’s bedroom’s master bathroom. Leverette’s cell phone was obtained and a download revealed incriminating text messages regarding the controlled substances.
Northview Completes Two Game Sweep Of Baker With 8-1 Win
March 13, 2021
The Northview Chiefs completed a two-game sweep over the Baker Gators 8-1 Friday night in Baker.
Kaden Odom took the win on the hill for the Chiefs, going six and a third innings while allowing one run on four hits and striking out three. Josh Landis tossed two-thirds of an inning in relief, allowing two hits, no runs and striking out one.
Rustin Pope was 2-3 at the plate for Northview with one run and one RBI. Jamarkus Jefferson was 1-2 with one and three RBIs; Odom was 1-3 with two runs and one RBI; Bryce Korinchak was 1-4 with a run; Trent Knighten had two runs, and Cody Thomas had a run.
Northview won the first game of the series Thursday night 5-4 over Baker.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Man Charged With Exploitation Of Elderly, ECSO Says There May Be More Victims
March 12, 2021
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man for exploitation of the elderly, and investigators believe there may be more victims.
Between February 2020 and November 2020, Robin Peterson stole $20,000 from an elderly victim. He exploited the victim by using different tactics such as bullying, emotional and psychological coercion to take the money, according to the ECSO.
Peterson was arrested and charged with crimes against a person exploitation of elderly.
ECSO Investigators believe there could be more victims of Peterson, and it’s believed he could be using different alias to fraud people. If you think you may have been a victim, call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Amber Alert Issued After Missing Tennessee Girl Possibly Seen In Florida
March 12, 2021
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has issued an Amber Alert for a missing Tennessee girl that may be in Florida.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said the most recent information in the search for Daphne Westbrook and her non-custodial father, John, likely places them in Florida one week ago. They may be driving the pictured 1971 Volkswagen Beetle that has no license plate or windshield.
She was last seen in Chattanooga in October 2019, and did not return from a weekend visit with her non-custodial father. He is wanted for aggravated kidnapping.
Authorities received a credible sighting of the father and daughter in Fort Walton Beach on Saturday, March 6, the Hamilton County District Attorney’s Office said on Friday.
Anyone with information is asked to call their local law enforcement agency or 911.
Garcon Point Bridge Toll Suspension Extended Again
March 12, 2021
The toll suspension on the Garcon Point bridge has been extended through April 9, 2021, the Florida Department of Transportation announced Friday morning.
“The extension allows the Garcon Point Bridge to continue serving as a temporary detour route while the Pensacola Bay Bridge is being repaired from damage sustained during Hurricane Sally,” FDOT said in a news release.
The Pensacola Bay Bridge is no longer expected to open in March as previously announced due to additional repairs. An exact opening date has not been provided, but it is expected to be sometime in May.
Escambia Commission Agrees On Adjusted Hybrid Plan For OLF-8
March 12, 2021
The Escambia County Commission agreed Thursday to move forward with what’s known as the “Adjusted Hybrid Plan” for the OLF-8 property on Nine Mile Road in Beulah.
The plan is a combination of commerce, residential and amenities. It allocates 271 acres to commerce and industrial; 61 acres to residential including duplexes, townhomes and multifamily; 47 acres to a mixed-use center such as residential over retail and office over retail; and 45 acres to trails and public amenities such as a post office, school, day care and community garden.
DPZ CoDesign, the design firm for the project, will move forward with developing specifics including zoning, infrastructure and density plans. That phase is expected to be completed by about Memorial Day.
The commission has also discussed impact fees for construction on OLF-8 to pay for roads and other infrastructure on the site.