Man Charged After Fentanyl, Meth, Spice Discovered In Escambia Home
January 30, 2021
An investigation that lasted several months ended with the arrest of an Escambia County man and a narcotics seizure.
With the assistance of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team and High Intensity Patrol Unit, a search warrant was served at a home on the 10-block of New York Drive. Inside the home, deputies discovered four grams of fentanyl, 18 grams of methamphetamine, 10 grams of cocaine, 300 grams of synthetic cannabinoid spice, drug paraphernalia, a firearm and $2,155 dollars in cash.
Dillan Callaway, 25, was arrested and charged with trafficking in fentanyl, possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, trafficking in synthetic cannabinoid spice, possession of paraphernalia, possession of a firearm while in commission of a felony and violation of probation.
Callaway’s bond was set at $161,000.
Escambia Commissioner Chair Bender Joins Escambia Fire Rescue For Training Exercise
January 30, 2021
Escambia County Commission chairman and District 4 Commissioner Robert Bender participated in firefighter training with Escambia County Fire Rescue Friday to better understand requirements.
“It’s important for people to experience what we do in our profession,” said ECFR Capt. Craig Ammons. “We can sit in a meeting and tell you what we do and what is required, but I think the person has a better understanding of what’s involved if they can experience it themselves. We truly appreciate Commissioner Bender for coming out.”
The training exercise consisted of three evolutions; search and rescue, forced entry and fire hose handling.
Ammons stressed the importance of operational and practical training as a critical element of the service and capability that ECFR provides to the community. ECFR made a lifesaving effort at a residential structure fire in the 2500 block of Y Street on Thursday.
“Firefighting skills are improved through repetition,” he said. “The more that our personnel can do these tasks over and over, it becomes second nature for them. And that’s what we want them to do. We want them to be able to respond to emergencies instinctively.”
“I enjoyed this great opportunity to get a hands-on look into what our hardworking Escambia County Fire Rescue team does for our community every day,” said Bender.
The training took place at a building slated to be demolished to make way for the new Baptist Hospital near I-10 and Brent Lane.
Briana McCreary Named Escambia County’s Teacher Of The Year
January 30, 2021
Escambia County’s Teacher of the Year is Briana McCreary.
McCreary has been a teacher since 2013 and currently teaches third grade at Montclair Elementary School.
As a life-long learner, McCreary uses her knowledge to be a better teacher.
“During my studies and research into the school-wide performance, I identified a trend in the school FSA performance in which the percentage of proficient female students was 82% lower than the percentage of proficient male students in mathematics,” wrote McCreary in her application for Teacher of the Year. “This sparked my interest in creating an afterschool program, ‘She Counts’, which would increase the interest and skill level in mathematics for female students within the testing grades. Through this program the students are conducting novel studies of females who have advanced in math or science, participating in S.T.E.M. projects, and being tutored on essential math skills.”
McCreary has also been working to develop her leadership skills by mentoring new teachers and student interns and by leading the incorporation of new learning tools such as Thinking Maps within her school. She also worked to help teachers across the district with their social studies lesson planning.
“I reconstructed the 2nd grade social studies curriculum maps for the school district. In building the new color maps I integrated the social studies curriculum into the reading curriculum, embedded lesson plans, correlated stories and online learning tools which matched social studies topics,” she said.
“We are so thankful for the incredible job that you do, the learning that your boys and girls experience, the dedication that you give everyday, everything that you put into your students and the success that you have as you lead your students,” Superintendent Timothy Smith said.
“This superpower teachers possess allows us to look at each of our students and see the potential they have. It’s a mix between being able to see the future and X-ray vision. For instance it may come in the form of seeing a child who is argumentative and talking back, but we don’t see a troubled child, we see a defense attorney. Our role as educators is to identify that potential they have and then place a mirror in front of them to be able to recognize it for themselves.”
As the Escambia County School District’s Teacher of the Year, McCreary will now represent Escambia County at the state level where she will have opportunities to network with Florida’s top teachers and compete for possible selection as Florida’s Teacher of the Year. That top teacher in the state will be announced this summer.
Pictured: The Escambia County School District’s Teacher of the Year Briana McCreary.
Deputies Respond To Report Of Student With Gun At Ransom Middle; Nothing Found
January 29, 2021
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to Ransom Middle School this afternoon after receiving a report of a student possibly armed with a firearm.
Numerous deputies responded and cleared the building, ECSO Cmdr. Andrew Hobbs said about 12:25 p.m. He said no weapon was found.
“It was determined not to be good information,” Hobbs said.
Ransom Middle was on lockdown during the incident. Nearby Kingsfield Elementary School was also placed on a precautionary lockdown.
File photo.
Florida Launches Website, Local Phone Numbers To Register For COVID-19 Vaccine
January 29, 2021
Florida has announced the launch of a statewide preregistration system to schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments for individuals 65 and older and front line health care workers.
Individuals can preregister for vaccine appointments and be notified when appointments are available in their area by visiting myvaccine.fl.gov.
Additionally, as part of the statewide registration system, each county has a designated phone number that individuals can call and preregister if they do not have Internet access. In Escambia County, call (866) 201-1025. In Santa Rosa County, call (850) 201-7110.
The website will allow individuals who are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine to be proactively contacted when vaccine appointments are available at state-supported vaccination sites. On the site, residents can select their county and submit their contact information. Once appointments are available, individuals will be contacted by phone call, text or email and will be assisted in scheduling an appointment.
Vaccine supply remains limited and appointments may not be available for several weeks in some counties, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Whether a resident calls by phone or visits myvaccine.fl.gov, their place in line will be reserved reliably using Sharecare software.
Those eligible for the vaccine at this time in Florida are:
- Long-term care facility residents and staff;
- Persons 65 years of age and older; and
- Health care personnel with direct patient contact.
Hospital providers, however, also may vaccinate persons who they deem to be extremely vulnerable to COVID-19.
Highway 97 Driver Hits Deer, Power Pole
January 29, 2021
A driver reportedly hit a deer before crashing into a power pole Friday morning near Molino.
It happened about 5:40 a.m. on Highway 97 near Pilgrim Trail.
The driver was transported by Escambia County EMS to Atmore Community Hospital.
The crash cut power to about 265 Gulf Power customers.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County’s New $142 Million Correctional Facility Is Almost Complete. Here’s A Photo Tour.
January 29, 2021
The new $142 million Escambia County Correctional Facility is set to open in the spring, replacing the Central Booking and Detention Center that was destroyed by an explosion in 2014.
On Thursday, select media members, including NorthEscambia.com, were allowed inside the 304,067 square foot, four story structure.
It is expected to be substantially completed in next month, with a final completion and the first inmates housed by April.
There are 15 housing units, know as “pods” for the inmates. Four dorms are centered around a central multipurpose room that includes a station for corrections officers.
“We have the officer in direct contact with the inmate,” said Escambia County Corrections Lt. Jason Walker. “It allows the inmate to create a professional relationship with the staff. The staff can then help them through their process of being incarcerated.”
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.
“Inmates have the opportunity to go outside and get some fresh air,” said Walker.
The facility has a complete infirmary to provide medical care.
“This was pretty much design to be a mini hospital so that we can handle patients that have direct medical needs,” Walker added.
There is a separate wing for juveniles that will not have contact with adult prisoners.
“They’ll have everything they’ll need, medical, schools, programs, all the recreation, in one wing,” Walker said. “It’s separate so they won’t even intermingle with adults.”
The new Escambia County Correctional Facility 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.
Escambia County Corrections is now hiring correctional officers, detention assistants and medical professionals for the new facility. For more information on how to apply, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview’s Jayden Jackson Commits To Holmes Community College
January 29, 2021
Northview High School’s all-time career leading rusher Jayden Jackson has committed to play football for Holmes Community College.
Jackson had 5,084 yards for the Chiefs. Last season, he averaged 249.3 rushing yards per game, ranking him No. 8 in the nation, according to Max Preps. His 2,224 rushing yards was second in Florida.
“After long and frustrating months due to COVID and the unlimited transfers and seniors getting an extra year I have made a decision to go JUCO and pursue my football dreams,” Jackson said.
Holmes Community College’s main campus is in Goodman, Mississippi.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Quintette Road Railroad Crossing Has Reopened; Chemstrand, Pauline Closing Next Week
January 29, 2021
CSX completed work on their Quintette Road crossing by Thursday night, and the crossing was reopened to traffic, according to Escambia County officials.
The crossings on Chemstrand Road (just south of Old Chemstrand Road) and on Pauline Street will close next week, according to Escambia County officials. The exact dates and times for the closures have not yet been announced.
CSX is conducting a crosstie replacement, and each crossing will be closed from two to three days. Work may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Pictured: Work on the Quintette Road crossing Thursday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Killed In Pensacola Wreck
January 29, 2021
A Cantonment man was killed in a three vehicle crash Thursday afternoon in Pensacola.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the 41-year old man was traveling west on Beverly Parkway near Rock Island Place about 4:30 p.m. when his vehicle crossed into path of an oncoming vehicle.
The man was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital were he was pronounced deceased.
The 73-year old driver of the second vehicle and her 14-year old passenger suffered only minor injuries. Her vehicle was rear-ended by a vehicle driven by a 51-year old man who also received only minor injuries.
The Florida Highway Patrol no longer releases the names of traffic crash victims.
File photo.