Registration Underway For Molino Ballpark And Northwest Escambia Spring Seasons
December 29, 2020
Registration is underway at Northwest Escambia and Molino Ballpark for the spring 2021 seasons.
Northwest Escambia
Registration for Northwest Escambia is open until January 31 at NWEbaseball.com. Player assessments are February 1-2. Opening day is March 27 at Bradberry Park.
Molino Ballpark
Registration will continue for Molino Ballpark until January 31. The draft is February 4-5. Practices will being February 8, and opening day in March 6. To register, visit MolinoBallPark.com.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Attorney General Warns Of Scams Tied To Stimulus Money
December 29, 2020
Attorney General Ashley Moody is warning Floridians about the potential for a new round of scams related to stimulus payments as another round of economic relief is approved.
To highlight these scams and provide resources for Floridians to share with loved ones, especially seniors, Attorney General Moody’s Scams at a Glance program just released two new downloadable brochures detailing information about how to spot common stimulus scams to stop fraud in its tracks. The brochure is printable and available in both English and Spanish.
The easy to read consumer awareness materials also provide tips on how to spot and avoid fraud. Common signs of scams related to stimulus payments include:
- Unsolicited calls or emails, especially if caller ID displays IRS or email message appears to be from a government entity. Spoofing technology allows scammers to change the caller ID display and scammers regularly change email addresses to impersonate government officials;
- High-pressure tactics or too-good-to-be-true offers;
- Threats of loss if immediate action is not taken; and
- Requests for immediate payment by wire transfer, credit, prepaid debit, or gift cards to expedite stimulus payment or other benefit.
To view the stimulus payments scams brochure in English, click here.
To view the stimulus payments scams brochure in Spanish, click here.
New Details Released In Murder Of Former Molino Fire Chief Gary Diamond
December 28, 2020
We’re learning more details about the murder of a former Molino fire chief early Saturday morning and what led up to the shooting.
Gary Diamond was pronounced deceased from multiple gunshot wounds outside his home in the 400 block of Molino Road shortly after 3:30 a.m.
The suspect, 30-year old Jared Cordel Clakley, is charged with second degree murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrived to find a Diamond with bullet wounds to his abdomen and neck. He was pronounced deceased on the scene.
Three witnesses told deputies that Clakley fired four or five shots at Diamond before fleeing in his vehicle. Deputies found the vehicle wrecked near Highway 95A and Molino Road, but Clakley had fled. A K-9 unit was deployed to track him down. He was later located at a family member’s home off of Holsberry Place.
Diamond’s daughter, who has children with Clakley, told investigators she stopped at the Homestead Lounge with her female friend. She noticed Clakley sitting at the bar with his father, and she went over to say hello. He became angry that she was the bar and not home with their kids, and a heated argument followed, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report. Clakley was asked to leave the bar.
The daughter said she began to receive threatening phone calls from Clakley, and he soon arrived at the family home on Molino Road. He remained in his car and began to argue with her, her mother and another relative. Diamond approached the car and an altercation with Clakley occurred through the car window.
Related Story: Communities Mourn After Murder Of Former Molino Fire Chief Gary Diamond
In the middle of the altercation, Clakley put the vehicle in reverse and backed down the driveway with Diamond hanging from the driver’s window, the report states. The vehicle struck a tree. The daughter ran to the car and pulled Diamond away before Clakley’s vehicle struck the mother.
Investigators said Diamond ran to the car and began pulling Clakley out of the vehicle, at which time Clakley fired several rounds. Diamond fell to the ground.
One of the victims recorded the entire incident on her phone. According to deputies, the video corroborated the statements of all three witnesses.
Clakley’s statements to investigators were redacted from the arrest report.
Clakley is being held without bond. His next court appearance is set for January 15.
Pictured: The scene of an early Saturday morning murder in the 400 block of Molino Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Crash Involves Truck Loaded With Propane Tanks
December 28, 2020
There were no serious injuries reported in a Sunday night wreck in Molino involving a passenger vehicle and a truck loaded with propane tanks.
It happened about 10:40 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 29 and Molino Road. Southbound Highway 29 was temporarily closed by the crash.
None of the propane tanks were compromised.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded.
Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Town Hall Is Closed Again After Staff Member Tests Positive For COVID-19
December 28, 2020
The Century Town Hall is once again closed for a few days after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.
“In order to avoid exposure to other individuals, we will have the facility cleaned and closed until Wednesday,” interim Town Manager Vernon Prather said Sunday evening.
Century Town Hall was also closed for several days in both July and early December after employees tested positive for the virus.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Holiday Gas Prices In Florida The Lowest In Five Years
December 28, 2020
Drivers in Florida are finding the lowest gas prices for the year-end holidays in five years.
The average price for gasoline in Florida was about $2.20 per gallon. That’s 26 cents less than this time last year, and the lowest average price for this time of year since 2015.
In Escambia County, the average was $2.19, 24 cents than last year.
The lowest price to be found Sunday night in Cantonment was $2.09 at a convenience store on Highway 29, while a couple of Pensacola stations were at $2.05.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Here’s How To Dispose Of Your Real Christmas Tree
December 28, 2020
Need to dispose of your Christmas tree? Here are options:
ECUA Christmas Tree Collections
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) will pick up Christmas trees from customers for free with the regular collection of yard waste.
“When it’s time to take down the Christmas decorations, place your real tree or natural wreaths out by the curb on your usual collection day for pick-up as part of your ECUA regular yard waste collection,” ECUA spokesperson Jim Roberts said.
Natural trees should be free of decoration and tinsel, and the tree stand should be removed. Trees should not be placed in he street.
The trees will be composted with other yard waste at the ECUA Biosolids Composting Facility.
The Florida Forest Service offers the following tips if you chose to burn your Christmas tree:
- Check local ordinances for requirements for outdoor burning.
- Burn only if significant rainfall has occurred in the last three or four days.
- Never burn on dry or windy days.
- Select a burn location that is at least 25 feet from natural areas, 25 feet from your home, 150 feet from other occupied buildings and 50 feet from any paved public roadway.
- Remove all decorations from the tree before you burn.
- Cut the tree into manageable sections, as necessary.
- Clear the burn area free of other flammable materials, such as leaf litter and pine straw.
- Keep a shovel and water hose handy in case the fire starts to escape containment.
- Never leave a fire unattended, and make sure it is out before leaving.
- Never burn a Christmas tree in a fireplace or wood stove.
No Road Closures On State Projects This Week
December 28, 2020
There’s a little extra gift from the Florida Department of Transportation for local drivers this week.
There will be no lane closures on state roads until Monday, January 4 due to the holidays. The lane closure restrictions include both construction and maintenance activities.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Two Counts of Aggravated Assault With A Deadly Weapon
December 27, 2020
A Cantonment man was charged with allegedly pointing a rifle at a woman and attempting to run over a man.
James Lee Fields, 29, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on two felony counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His bond was set at $30,000.
A witness told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that Fields grabbed a rifle from his vehicle and pointed it at a woman during an armed disturbance on Muscogee Road. The woman told deputies that Fields was angry over a missing marijuana blunt.
Another witness told deputies that as Fields was driving away from the area, he began doing burnouts drove toward him at one point.
New Educational Born Learning Trail For Kids Is Now Open In Century
December 27, 2020
A new interactive Born Learning Trail for kids at Showalter Park in Century is now open.
The Born Learning Trail, a United Way Worldwide initiative since 2005, is a series of 10 signs with activities painted on a park trail that offer fun, interactive learning activities for young children and their families. It helps parents, caregivers, and communities create quality engagement opportunities when out on a stroll or while playing at a park.
The Born Learning Trail in Century is the second of five that will be in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The first opened in Jay during the summer, and three more will be announced.
The Century Born Learning Trail is a partnership between the Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County, International Paper, the Town of Century, and United Way of West Florida.
To visit the Born Learning Trail in Century, head to Showalter Park off East Hecker Road. Drive north around the baseball and softball fields and follow the road past the cemetery. The trail begins in portion of the paved trail that is under the trees. For a Google map, click here. The park is open daily from sunrise until sunset.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
