U.S. Marshals Arrest Century Man On Outstanding Drug Warrants
February 4, 2021
U.S. Marshals arrested a Century man on outstanding drug warrants Thursday morning.
Darren L. Green, 52, was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals at a home on Academy Street at the corner of Henry Street in Century.
Green was wanted on outstanding drug warrants from the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office for trafficking methamphetamine and marijuana possession, according to SRSO Sgt. Rich Aloy.
Green was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $105,000.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the arrest.
Pictured: U.S. Marshals arrested a man on outstanding drug warrants at this home on Academy Street in Century Thursday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Man Charged With Business Burglary, Resisting Arrest
February 4, 2021
A Walnut Hill man is facing multiple charges after allegedly burglarizing a business and later running from deputies.
Hunter Anthony Chavers, 25, is charged with burglary of a business, grand theft, obstruction of justice and violation of probation.
Chavers allegedly took items worth $9,350 from West Florida Gin on Meadows Road in Davisville. The items reported stolen included a portable welder valued at $8,500 along with miscellaneous hand tools, power tools and other items.
The stolen goods were recovered at Chaver’s residence on Pine Forest Road in Walnut Hill by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, according to an arrest report.
When deputies arrived at Chaver’s residence to serve an arrest warrant, he reportedly ran into a nearby wooded area where he was taken into custody, the ECSO said.
A rifle, pistol and ammunition were seized, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Chavers is not allowed to possess weapons due to the terms of his probation from 2018 conviction on hunting relating charges.
Chavers remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Century’s Gas Department Made A Profit In December. That Has Not Happened In Long Time.
February 4, 2021
For the first time in recent memory, the Town of Century’s gas fund has actually recorded a profit for a month without the need to borrow operating cash from another department.
During the month of December, the gas fund had a $10,621 profit. Most months, including previous winters, the fund loses money and money is transferred in from special revenue, gas and garbage funds to keep the gas department afloat. In October and November, $52,404 was transferred to the gas department from other fund sources to cover losses topping $37,000.
During the four-year period ending in September 2019, Century’s gas department losses topped $1 million. That prompted the town to get to work replacing inaccurate residential and commercial meters and working on inaccurate billing.
In September 2019, the town could not account for 45% of natural gas purchased for resale. It was not leaking; it simply was not be billed due to those inaccurate meters and billing problems. In recent months, about 11% of the gas was missing from the books as the town works toward an even lower number.
“You are going to see those numbers trend downward,” interim City Manager Vernon Prather said.
Escambia County COVID-19 Hospitalizations Continue To Decline
February 4, 2021
Escambia County COVID-19 daily hospitalizations have fallen below 200 this week for the first time since the year began.
There were 180 people currently hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Escambia County on Wednesday.
“COVID-19 hospitalizations between the three local hospital systems are starting to slowly go down, but we still want to get back to the 50-75 range,” Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said. “It’s important that we continue to work together to bring these numbers down for our community and for our hospitals. Please be vigilant and take preventative actions, including wearing a mask, social distancing and washing your hands often.”
The numbers in the graph indicate daily hospitalizations in Escambia County and are provided daily by Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital, Baptist Hospital and West Florida Hospital. The daily numbers are not cumulative.
Data source: Escambia County, City of Pensacola. Graphics: City of Pensacola, Escambia County.
Highway 29 Traffic Stop Leads To Drug Arrest When K-9 Finds Ecstasy And Cocaine
February 4, 2021
A Highway 29 traffic stop led to the discover of MDMA, also known as ecstasy, and cocaine Tuesday night.
About 11 p.m., the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office High Intensity Patrol Unit performed a traffic stop near the Regency Hotel on Highway 29.
Deputy Beaty and K-9 Maddox were called to the scene. Inside the car, K-9 Maddox alerted to 46.8 grams of MDMA and 2.7 grams of crack cocaine, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. A gun was also located inside the vehicle.
Anthony Maurice Thomas, 23, was charged with a weapons offense, resisting an officer without violence, possession of cocaine with intent to sell and trafficking phenethylamines. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $131,000.
UWF Professors Offering Free Workshops To Help Parents Support Their Students
February 4, 2021
The Escambia County Public Schools Foundation is partnering with the University of West Florida to offer six workshops beginning next week to help parents support their student and their teachers.
“We are excited to partner with the University of West Florida,” said Kristie Kelly, executive director at the Foundation. “Their faculty will share strategies to support your student’s success in face-to-face, virtual and blended learning environments.
The virtual sessions in this series, entitled “Supporting Your Student,” will be on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month in February through April. Each session begins at 5 p.m. with a 30-minute workshop followed by 15 minutes for questions from parents. UWF faculty from the departments of teacher education and educational leadership and instructional design and technology are presenting the workshops.
“As a result of the pandemic, parents have suddenly found themselves thrust in the role of teacher without any formal training,” said Dr. John Pecore, professor and associate chair of teacher education and educational leadership. “It has created a tremendous need that our faculty expertise can support. We are excited to offer this service to the community.”
Preregistration is required. Email foundation@ecsdfl.us for more information and to sign up for one or more workshops.
The dates, topics and presenters are listed below. A ZOOM link will be sent to those who have preregistered. A reminder will also be emailed on the day of each workshop.
Feb. 9 from 5—5:45 p.m.
Communicating Regularly with Teachers
Presenters: Dr. Aneta Walker, Dr. James Dickson and Dr. Amany Habib
Feb. 23 from 5—5:45 p.m.
Setting Clear Expectations and Goals
Presenters: Dr. Elizabeth Bemiss and Dr. Kathleen Heubach
March 9 from 5—5:45 p.m.
Establishing Routines and Systems to Stay Organized
Presenter: Dr. Tim Morse and Dr. Holley Handley
March 23 from 5—5:45 p.m.
Encouraging and Motivating for Success
Presenters: Dr. Nguyen Nguyen and Dr. Jennifer Mesa
April 13 from 5—5:45 p.m.
Creating a Positive Environment for At-home Learning
Presenters: Dr. John Pecore, Dr. Melanie DiLoreto and Dr. Minkyoung Kim
April 27 from 5—5:45 p.m.
Addressing the Unique Challenges of Children with Special Needs
Presenters: Dr. Keri Fogle and Dr. Shim Lew
Escambia County Starting Over In Search For Fire Chief, Rejecting Four Finalists
February 3, 2021
Escambia County is starting over in its search for a fire chief, scrapping a list of finalists for the position.
Four finalists were announced in late January, culled from a list of 60 applicants from a nationwide search. They have been notified the search is starting over.
“We will be reposting the Fire Chief position to be open until filled,” Escambia County spokesperson Laura Coale told NorthEscambia.com in an email. “We appreciate the candidates’ time and while we had several good candidates, it’s important to find the right fit for Escambia County.”
During the last week of January, the four finalists were set to meet individually with Escambia County Administrator Janice Gilley and the department directors in Public Safety. At that time, Coale said County Administrator Janice Gilley would possibly make a choice and a new fire chief could be on the job by March.
The finalists for Escambia Fire Rescue chief were, in alphabetical order:
- William Beaty, Jr. has served as the fire chief at the Garden City Fire Department in Kansas since December 2019. He previously worked as the program coordinator at Lincoln Land Community College (Springfield, Illinois) from 2007 to 2019. He also worked with the Springfield (Illinois) Fire Department from 1996, to 2019, leaving as a captain.
- Roger Burton served in the Ohio Air National Guard from 2010 until 2020, retiring as installation fire chief.
- Clinton Cooke served with the South Monroe County Fire Department in Conroe, Texas, from 2009 to 2020 when he departed as Assistant Fire Chief. On his application he stated he reason for leaving as “agreement between the fire chief and I. Will discuss further in interview”.
- Christopher Hatch has worked with the NAS Pensacola Fire Department since 1986. He was a supervisory firefighter from 1986 to 2005 and has served as assistant fire chief of operations since 2005. He has also volunteered for Escambia Fire Rescue since 1982, serving in positions ranging from volunteer firefighter to assistant district chief and district chief. He is currently district chief of the Bellview Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and serves as president of the Escambia County Volunteer Firefighters Association.
The job has been open for well over a year. Escambia County’s last fire chief, Rusty Nail, was hired in April 2018 and submitted his resignation about a year later.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Teen Seriously Injured When Struck By Vehicle In Cantonment
February 3, 2021
A teen was seriously injured when he was struck by a vehicle Tuesday afternoon in Cantonment.
It happened shortly after 5 p.m. in the area of South Highway 95A and East Kingsfield Road. The 15-year old male was transported to an area hospital as a trauma alert by Escambia County EMS.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released further information.
File photo.
Sheriff Says ‘Crazy And Deadly” Events Led Up To Monday Murder, Four Arrests
February 3, 2021
“We had a crazy and deadly series of events that unfolded in North Escambia.”
That is how Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons describes incidents over several days that ended with the shooting death of a Cantonment man on Monday.
Danny Blackmon, Jr., 35, was shot and killed on Lawson Lane Monday afternoon as his 19-year old girlfriend watched in horror.
The girlfriend’s mother is one of two people charged in his death, and her grandmother was also jailed. Dawn Sluder is charged with principal to first degree murder, and her boyfriend, Jonathon Taylor Hobbs of Cantonment, is charged with first degree premeditated murder.
On Saturday, Sluder reported her 19-year daughter as either a runaway or as being held against her will.
“We made contact with the daughter, and she told us, ‘I am happy where I am at and with my boyfriend’,” Simmons said.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to a call of an armed home invasion at Blackmon’s residence in the days before his death. The girlfriend’s grandmother, 57-year old Holly Marie Sluder, and the grandmother’s boyfriend, 63-year old Charles Burnell Parker, were both charged with first degree armed burglary (pictured left). Parker allegedly pointed a gun at Blackmon while Holly Marie Sluder kept her hand on a holstered weapon as they took two cellphones. Blackmon tracked the phones to an area near their residence, and he phones were located when a search warrant was executed Tuesday on Greymont Lane.
Hobbs allegedly shot Blackmon multiple times Monday afternoon. After Blackmon fell to the ground, Hobbs reportedly leaned over his body and fired at least two more rounds before running away. Blackmon’s girlfriend witnessed the entire incident and attempted to perform CPR until she beaten and pulled away by her hair by Dawn Sluder, an arrest report states.
Hobbs and Dawn Sluder remained are being held without bond. Holly Sluder and Parker were released from the Escambia County Jail Tuesday on $50,000 bond each.
“You read about this kind of craziness in other places or see it on television, but unfortunately this time it happened here,” Simmons said. “It’s just crazy. We have a lady whose boyfriend is dead, and her mother and grandmother are in jail. It was a wild weekend.”
RELATED STORY: Arrest Reports Detail Cantonment Shooting That Left One Dead, Two Jailed
Website, Local Phone Number Launched To Register For COVID-19 Vaccine In Escambia County
February 3, 2021
The statewide preregistration system for COVID-19 appointments is now available to Escambia County residents.
Individuals 65 and older and front line health care workers in Escambia County can call the toll free line at (866) 201-1025 or register online at myvaccine.fl.gov. The state has established a help line at (833) 959-0217 for those who need to make changes to their original preregistration.
The registration system will proactively contact vaccine-eligible individuals to schedule appointments when they are available in the county. On the website, residents can select Escambia 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.
On February 5, FDOH-Escambia will sync the information from the previous online interest form with the new system managed by the Florida Department of Emergency Management. Residents who have completed FDOH-Escambia’s online interest form do not need to call or email to confirm their registration.
FDOH said it is important to note that registering multiple times does not increase your chances of getting an appointment. Attempts to register in multiple counties is not allowed. Duplicate registrations will be removed and the system will keep the most recent county registration for the person with multiple entries.