Ribbon Cut On New $142 Million Escambia County Correctional Facility
March 30, 2021
A ribbon cutting was held Monday for the new Escambia County Correctional Facility as the county officially took possession of the $142 million building.
The 840-bed facility on Pace Boulevard replaces the Central Booking and Detention facility that was destroyed by a natural gas explosion during the April 2014 flood that claimed the lives of two inmates and injured about 180 others.
For a NorthEscambia photo tour of the jail, click here.
“It’s very important that we’re taking a step to help those that are in our custody and try to make sure that they come out a better person than they came in. I say we’re also leading the way,” Escambia County Commission Chairman Robert Bender said. “We’re showing by example having impervious surfaces for our asphalt. This is as much of a drainage project as it is a corrections project. Trying to help the drainage in this area, containing flooding so that we don’t have to deal with the same issues that we saw in 2014. We are very excited that we are able to address all these with just one project.”
The county will now move into the new building over the next month or so before inmates are housed in the building.
The new four story building will not replace the current jail, which was constructed in the 1980s. The two buildings are connected by an enclosed corridor. Inmates will be divided between the two buildings based up on their security classification. Main services such as food and laundry will be in the new building.
The facility is designed with separate wings to house and provide services for juveniles, keeping juveniles out of normal sight and sound of adult inmates.
“The best thing that I see is the opportunity not just for the inmate population to be in a better, secure and safer environment. It’s a safe and secure environment for our staff to operate in,” Escambia County Corrections Chief Rick Powell said. “The biggest advantage is the size of this building of over 300,000 square feet. It is designed so it’s not tight, and it can be managed better. In the last two and half years in preparation for this building, we have been rewriting policies looking at old policies, restructuring how we conduct business and bringing policies into a modern era. Every area has a medical unit and educational area. Inmates have the essential needs to not come back. We try to introduce skill sets so they make better choices.”
There are 15 housing units, known as “pods” for the inmates. Four dorms are centered around a central multipurpose room that includes a station for corrections officers. Inmates will spend their time inside the pods, with services such as medical treatment, food and video visitation coming to them. There are televisions in the multipurpose rooms, and there access to an attached recreation area with a basketball goal. The rec area has high windows that open to the outside to allow in natural light and fresh air.
The corrections facility is operated by Escambia County, not the sheriff’s office.
“What you see here is near and dear to my heart because every step of the way the partners that we chose, that the Board of County Commissioners chose, we had that partnership with one goal in mind — to make it the very best,” Sheriff Chip Simmons said. “The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will continue in this partnership and I’m proud to be a part of it.”
For a NorthEscambia photo tour of the jail, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Horse Judging Team Wins State Championship, Advances To Nationals
March 30, 2021
The Northview High School Horse Judging Team won a state championship Saturday and will advance to the national competition.
Team members are Leia Grantham, Hannah Hassebrock, Audrey Goetter and Samantha Kimmons.
In addition, Grantham placed first individually in the state, and Goetter placed second.
The team is coached by sisters Courtney and Stephanie Solari, both Northview graduates.
“We are beyond proud of the girls’ dedication and the hard work they put in this year. Even when faced with changes to the contest format, a canceled preliminary event, and uncertainty over whether the contest would even happen, they persevered and gave it their all,” said Courtney Solari.
This was the second time Northview’s Horse Judging Team has won the state championship; the team claimed the title in 2019.
Pictured: (L-R) Audrey Goetter, Leia Grantham, Samantha Kimmons and Hannah Hassebrock. Team members are pictured below with coaches Stephanie Solari (far left) and Courtney Solari (far right). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Man Accused Of Stealing Power Tools From Carriage House
March 30, 2021
A Century man is accused of stealing power tools last year that were later sold and recently recovered.
Travis Leigh Carroll, 28, was charged with felony burglary of an unoccupied structure and theft for an incident that happened last September.
Carroll allegedly entered a “carriage house” at a home on Highway 4A and stole $1,000 worth of equipment, according to an arrest report. The building is described in an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report as an open-air building that is not locked or secured.
The items reported stolen included an air compressor, a gas pressure washer and a chain saw.
On March 22, the ECSO received information about where the stolen items might be located after they were sold by Carroll. They items were recovered and returned to the original owner.
The victim stated he was contacted by Carroll who stated law enforcement was harassing him and his fingerprints would be on the items because he had formerly worked for the victim, according to the arrest report.
Community Health COVID-19 Testing Cut To One Day A Week In Cantonment, Two In Pensacola
March 30, 2021
Community Health of Northwest Florida has cut their COVID-19 testing schedule to three days a week instead of five.
CHNWF drive-thru COVID-testing is now available from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on the following schedule:
- Mondays at 2315 West Jackson Street, Pensacola
- Wednesdays at Cantonment Pediatrics, 470 South Highway 29, Cantonment
- Fridays at 2315 West Jackson Street, Pensacola
For send out tests, no appointment is needed. For rapid tests for symptomatic individuals an appointment is required. call the CHNWF COVID-19 testing call center at (850) 390-4276.
Northview Baseball Beats W.S. Neal; Pensacola Catholic Tops Northview Softball
March 30, 2021
SOFTBALL
Pensacola Catholic 8, Northview 2
The Pensacola Catholic Crusaders defeated the Northview Chiefs 8-2 in softball action Monday night.
Emma Gilmore game up eight runs on three hits, striking out five, in four and a third innings. Aubrey Stuckey tossed one and two thirds innings in relief, giving up no hits and striking out one.
Kaitlin Gafford, Payton Gilchrist and Nevaeh Brown had hits for the Chiefs.
BASEBALL
Northview 6, W.S. Neal 5
Northview 8, W.S. Neal 5 (JV)
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Pensacola State To Hold In-Person Graduation At Bay Center
March 30, 2021
Pensacola State College has announced it will hold in-person commencement exercises in May for three graduation classes.
The ceremonies will be held Sunday, May 9 at the Pensacola Bay Center for students who graduated Fall 2020, Spring 2021 and students graduating Summer 2021.
The graduation begins at 3 p.m. in-person, and it will also be live streamed.
Graduates who plan to attend the in-person event must RSVP and are limited to six guests each. Beginning on April 26, students can pick up tickets for guests from the Admissions Office, Building 2, on the Pensacola campus.
All attendees must wear face masks and follow social distancing protocol. No hand shaking will take place during the ceremony. Also, graduates and their guests will not be allowed to congregate and will be directed to go directly to their vehicles following the event.
“Flash” Gordon Sprague, a businessman, philanthropist, farmer and former NASCAR driver, will be the guest speaker.
Pictured: Pensacola State College’s Spring 2020 graduation. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECSO: Victim In Reported Cardiac Arrest in Gonzalez Was Found Suffering From Cuts; Person Of Interest In Custody
March 29, 2021
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrested a “person of interest” that fled after a reported cardiac arrest in Gonzalez Monday night.
Just after 7 p.m., the ECSO, fire and EMS responded to a mobile home on Conference Road, near the entrance to Ascend Performance Materials.
Morgan Lewis, an ECSO spokesperson, said the man was found to have injuries that appeared to be consistent with being cut. He was transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS; an update on his condition was not immediately available.
When first responders arrived, another man fled the scene. After a K-9 search, the person of interest was taken into custody on outstanding warrants.
Additional updates will be posted as they become available during the active investigation.
File photo.
Driver Collides With, Knocks Over Gas Pump In Cantonment
March 29, 2021
An older driver collided with a gas pump in Cantonment, knocking it over, Monday afternoon in Cantonment.
It happened at the QuickFill on Muscogee Road at Jacks Branch Road. The driver was not injured, and there was no fire or other public danger created by the accident.
We’re told the station remained open with another pump still operational.
The Florida Highway Patrol was called to investigate.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Bay Bridge Reopening Delayed Again, This Time Until The Week Of Memorial Day
March 29, 2021
The projected reopening date for the Pensacola Bay Bridge has been delayed again; this time until the week of Memorial Day.
The Florida Department of Transportation said Monday afternoon that during repair efforts additional damage was found on a trophy piece — the large piers that support the bridge.
“During repair efforts on the trophy pieces at pier 70, repair crews identified additional damage that warranted replacing the interior trophy piece at pier 70,” FDOT said. “The trophy piece’s replacement at pier 70 is critical since the demolition, pile driving, trophy installation, beam placement and deck pouring will be required.”
Earlier this year, FDOT officials said the bridge would be reopened with at least two lanes on March 22. In early march, officials said that would not happen after more trophy piece damage was found.
Motorists should continue to use all available detour routes, which include the Garcon Point Bridge and State Road 87. At this time, tolls on the Garcon Point Bridge are suspended through Friday, April 9, 2021. Commuters can also use the Escambia County Area Transit’s (ECAT) temporary bus route travel between Pensacola and Gulf Breeze free of charge.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sacred Heart Now Scheduling Vaccination Appointments For Anyone 18 And Older
March 29, 2021
COVID-19 vaccinations will be available to anyone age 18 and older beginning next Monday, April 5, and Ascension Sacred Heart is now scheduling appointments now for 10,000 doses of the vaccine.
The clinics will offer either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, which require two shots.
Appointments are required and can be scheduled online at www.GetSacredHeartCare.com.
In Pensacola, clinics for Florida residents 18 and older will be held at Olive Baptist Church on:
- April 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- April 8 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- April 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- April 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- April 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- April 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m