Century Sawmill Day 2021 Has Been Canceled
March 17, 2021
For the second consecutive year, the annual Sawmill Day and Car Show in Century has been canceled due to COVID-19. The event is traditionally held in May.
For 2019 Sawmill Day photos, click here.
For 2019 car show photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bergosh Wants To Add Paid Crew To Beulah Fire Station, Grow Volunteer Roster
March 16, 2021
Escambia County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh plans to bring forward a proposal to add full time employees to support the volunteer firefighters at the Beulah Station of Escambia Fire Rescue.
An Escambia Fire Rescue analysis, completed at Bergosh’s request, estimates the bottom line cost at about $220,000 per year for a three-person fire company in Beulah for nine hours a day, Monday through Friday. The crew would consist of one lieutenant and two firefighters, one of which would be a paramedic to provide Advanced Life Support on medical emergencies.
The current average EMS response time to Beulah is about 15 minutes, according to the ECFR analysis.
Bergosh said that even with the paid daytime crew, volunteer firefighters would reman a crucial part of the fire service in Beulah.
“I have strongly supported the volunteers at Station 2 in Beulah since I have lived here — and I still do now, more than ever,” Bergosh wrote on his blog. “These men and women are excellent and they do a great job. These volunteers will soon have a new, modern fire facility which is being designed right now, and for which the board has committed a total of $4 million to build.”
With tremendous growth in Beulah, and the upcoming development of OLF-8, the District 1 commissioner said improvements are necessary, and he intends to find funding.
“I believe we may be able to fund the first two years of this additional, enhanced coverage for Beulah utilizing Federal Rescue Plan funding; eventually, as OLF-8 gets developed, I support adding impact fees, a TIFF, or an enhanced MSBU (or some combination of these three) — only on the developments permitted there (on OLF-8) in order to offset this additional $220,000 in costs thereby eliminating the need to raise the county-wide MSBU. I do not and will not support raising the MSBU county-wide,” he said.
Bergosh stressed that the Beulah Fire Station will remain a volunteer station, and he is working to grow the volunteer ranks.
“I am also, simultaneously working a plan to bolster and grow the roster of volunteers at Beulah. That plan is already underway.”
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue is staffed much like Bergosh’s plan for Beulah. Century has a paid firefighter crew on duty from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday-Friday. Volunteers provide coverage nights and weekends.
FDLE Says Tate Homecoming Queen And Her Mother Hacked Student Accounts So She Would Win; Both Facing Multiple Felonies
March 16, 2021
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has arrested a Tate High School student and her mother, an elementary school assistant principal, on charges for allegedly hacking student accounts in order to place fraudulent votes for the Tate High homecoming queen last fall.
Laura Rose Carroll, 50, and her 17-year old daughter, Emily Rose Grover, were charged by FDLE with one count each of offenses against users of computers, computer systems, computer networks, and electronic devices (a third degree felony), unlawful use of a two-way communications device (a third degree felony), criminal use of personally identifiable information (a third degree felony) and conspiracy to commit these offenses (a first degree misdemeanor). Carroll was booked into the Escambia County Jail and released on an $6,000 bond. Grover was taken into custody and transferred to the Escambia Regional Juvenile Detention Center.
Grover was named Tate High School’s 2020 homecoming queen.
The investigation began in November 2020 when the Escambia County School District contacted FDLE to report unauthorized access into hundreds of student accounts. The investigation found that Carroll, an assistant principal at Bellview Elementary School, and her Grover, a student at Tate High School, had accessed student FOCUS accounts. Carroll had district level access of the school board’s FOCUS program which is the school district’s student information system. FOCUS users are required to change their password every 45 days and Carroll’s annual training for the “Staff Responsible Use of Guidelines for Technology” was up to date.
In October 2020, hundreds of votes for Tate High School’s Homecoming Court voting were flagged as fraudulent, with 117 votes originating from the same IP address within a short period of time. Agents uncovered evidence of unauthorized access to FOCUS linked to Carroll’s cellphone as well as computers associated with their residence, with a total of 246 votes cast for the homecoming court. Multiple students reported that the Grover described using her mother’s FOCUS account to cast votes. The investigation also found that beginning August 2019, Carroll’s FOCUS account accessed 372 high school records and 339 of those were of Tate High School students.
Arrest affidavits obtained by NorthEscambia.com provide more details into the allegations.
When two FDLE special agents responded to Carroll and Grover’s residence in Cantonment to interview them, Carroll immediately stated that she would defer any questions to her attorney, FDLE said.
FDLE received nine statements from students and a teacher that all stated Grover spoke about accessing Carroll’s FOCUS account or they have seen her access it for almost four years.
“I have known that Emily Grover logs into her moms school account in order to access grades and test scores since freshman year when we became friends,” one student said in a statement to FDLE. “She has looked up [redacted] student ID before to [redacted]. She also knows that if she logs into her moms account at Tate it will ping that Laura Grover signed in at Tate High School. She looks up all of our group of friends grades and makes comments about how she can find out our test scores all of the time.”
“When Emily Grover was a sophomore [redacted] class, I recall times that she logged onto her moms focus account and openly shared information, grades, schedules, etc. with others. She did not seem like logging in was a big deal and was very comfortable with doing so,” another statement written by a witness said.
According to FDLE, the Escambia County School District FOCUS program contains grades, medical history, test scores, attendance, disciplinary actions, personnel information, emergency contacts, schedules, exceptional student education (ESE) information, student picture and student identification number. Teachers and staff members are able to view student profiles or more depending on access level.
The school district uses an application called Election Runner to perform activities such as homecoming court voting. FDLE was notified that Election Runner contacted the school district regarding over 100 flagged votes and an ethics complaint involving the Tate High School homecoming voting.
Carroll contested Grover’s expulsion from Tate High School that stemmed from the incident. An administrative hearing was held, and Grover’s expulsion was upheld.
The Office of the State Attorney, First Judicial Circuit will prosecute this case.
Carroll has been suspended from her position with the school district.
Pictured above and below: Laura Rose Carroll, Bellview Elementary Facebook and Escambia County Jail; Emily Rose Grover, Tate High School’s 2020 homecoming queen, NorthEscambia.com photos.
Honeysuckle Garden Club Spruces Up Fillingim Landing Entrance
March 16, 2021
The entrance to Fillingim Landing in Barrineau Park is looking much better today thanks for a group of dedicated volunteers.
On Monday, 14 volunteers from the Honeysuckle Garden Club planted donated trees and flowers at the Fillingim Landing entrance. Sometimes working in the rain, the group also picked up trash in the area.
Fillingim Landing is a day-use recreation area that offers a canoe/kayak launch, hiking trails, picnic areas, pedestal grills, portable toilets and gravel parking. The area, managed by the Northwest Florida Water Management District, does not allow ATV’s or trailer boat launching. It is day use only (no camping), and alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Fillingim Landing is located off Jacks Branch Road south of Barrineau Park Road. Admission is free.
Convicted Molino Felon Facing Weapons, Drug Charges After Traffic Stop
March 16, 2021
A convicted felon from Molino is facing weapons and drug charges after a traffic stop.
Alexander George DeLoach, 25, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a concealed weapon, two counts of possession of cocaine, possession of a marijuana, knowingly driving with a suspended license, and failure to appear on a felony charge of possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office stopped DeLoach’s vehicle in the area of Detroit Boulevard and Pensacola Boulevard for an alleged improper left turn. Deputies smelled the odor of marijuana and searched the vehicle, finding a bag containing cocaine, a bag of marijuana, and a loaded .22 caliber weapon, according to an arrest report.
DeLoach remained in the Escambia County jail without bond.
One Critically Injured In Byrneville Rollover Wreck
March 15, 2021
One person was critically injured in a single vehicle wreck early Monday morning in Bryneville.
The crash happened about 3 a.m. near the intersection of Highway 4A and Highway 168, close to the Beulah Chapel Assembly of God.
The driver lost control, ran off the road and overturned into the wood line. The driver was extricated by firefighters and transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS as a trauma alert.
The Century and Walnut Hill Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Flomaton Fire Department and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Woman Charged With Exploitation Of Elderly Man
March 15, 2021
A Cantonment woman is charged with taking half ownership of a piece of property belonging to a vulnerable elderly man and spending $9,000 of his money.
Sharon Marie Hazzard, 52, was charged with felony exploitation of the elderly.
According to the Florida Department of Children and Families, the victim was at a high risk of exploitation due to a sixth grade education and a diminished understanding of finances.
“He has no understanding of his income or how his funds were being managed. He is observed to be easily manipulated and agreeable to persons of trust,” the DCF report states.
In April 2016, Hazard convinced the victim to “sign some papers,” according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report, that was actually a quitclaim deed giving her half ownership of the property with rights of survivorship. It was discovered when a property tax late notice was received.
The property is described as an “old, poorly maintained single wide trailer” in Cantonment. The trailer was damaged by Hurricane Sally and until August 2020 did not have a functioning air conditioner. the report notes.
In addition, Hazard had herself added to a Regions Bank account owned by the victim, according to ECSO. Over the course of about nine months, she used about $9,000 from the account to make multiple purchases and ATM withdrawals that did not benefit the elderly victim, the report continues.
When DCF first interviewed the victim, they found that there was very little food in the trailer and that family members stated the man had not received medical care in several years.
Hazard was “unresponsive and did not cooperate’ with the ECSO or DCF’s investigation, the arrest report states. She was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $2,500 bond.
The relationship between Hazzard and the victim is not contained in a redacted arrest report.
The Blues Are Back With Hometown’s First Look At New Jets
March 15, 2021
The Blue Angels are back in town, and they showed off their brand new F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets Sunday afternoon over Pensacola and Pensacola Beach. Photos by Perry Doggrell and others for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County 4-H Members Headed To State Event Competitions
March 15, 2021
The UF/IFAS Escambia County Extension Office recently hosted 4-H County Events consisting of competitions in public speaking, demonstrations and illustrated talks, photography, graphic design and share-the-fun (talent) activities.
The socially distanced event featured 29 youth who submitted 66 different entries.
This year all senior blue ribbon demonstrations and the first place senior public speaker and Share-the-Fun participants will go on to State 4-H Events. The top junior (ages 8-10), intermediate (ages 11-13), and senior (age 14+) photographs will now proceed to the state contest. For graphic design competitions, all blue-ribbon winners will be eligible for the state contest at 4-H University at the University of Florida in July.
The following county winners will advance to state:
Graphic Design:
- Baylee B.
- Syrah Chauvette
- Ryan Clake
- Tucker Padgett
- Ava Chauvette, named Best in Show
- Brayden Clarke
- Maddie Goss
- Gracie Meredith
Share-the-Fun (Talent):
- Kailee Dunlap
Public Speaking:
- Maddie Goss
Demonstrations and Illustrated Talks:
- Alan B.
- Maddie Goss
- Gracie Meredith
- Ethan Thorne
- Hannah Thorne
- Jessica Conti
Photography:
- Zaiyn Chauvette
- Ryan Clarke
- Katherine Ballard
Bicyclist Killed On North Davis Highway Sunday Night
March 15, 2021
A bicyclist was killed Sunday night on North Davis Highway.
A 30-year old man driving a pickup truck was southbound on Davis Highway near Northcross Lane about 10:40 p.m. when a bicyclist crossed into his path, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
FHP was still working to identify the driver, describing him only as a Hispanic male.
File photo.