Three State Appropriations For Escambia County Make Taxwatch Make Budget Turkey List
June 18, 2025
Tuesday, Florida TaxWatch released its 2025 Budget Turkey Watch Report, an annual independent review of the state budget to promote oversight, integrity, and transparency in the appropriations process. This year’s review of Florida’s $115.1 billion budget for FY2025-26 identifies 242 items totaling $416.1 million that qualify as “Budget Turkeys.” These are appropriations that bypass or violate established budget procedures or legislative and public scrutiny.
In addition to projects that qualify as Budget Turkeys, the report highlights other areas in the budget that contain numerous member projects that, while they do not strictly meet Florida TaxWatch’s Budget Turkey criteria, certainly merit extra scrutiny and close gubernatorial review. These additional projects total $799.5 million.
The FY2025-26 budget includes approximately 1,600 local member projects worth more than $2 billion. The last three budgets have all funded at least $2.8 billion worth of member projects, and this budget may approach that threshold. With only 160 legislators, the average is 10 projects and $17 million per member. Some legislators receive far more than others.
Three state appropriations in Escambia County made the list:
Health Translational Research Institute Facility — $1,667,400
Historic Pensacola — $125,000
Family Arts Education Expansion at Pensacola Little Theater — $646,000
For the full report, click here.
Escambia Man Pleads Guilty To Cyberstalking And Sending Obscene Materials To Underage Girls
June 18, 2025
An Escambia County man has pled guilty in federal court to cyberstalking and sending obscene materials to minor females.
Charles M. Schmaltz, 28,, entered the plea.
Court documents reflect that Schmaltz communicated with multiple minor females between 2022 – 2024 by utilizing 10 or more social media accounts to contact them. The minor females, and later their parents, repeatedly requested that Schmaltz cease communicating with them. Instead, Schmaltz sent sexually explicit content to the minor females, including extremely graphic communications about engaging in sexual acts with the minors and images of his own genitals. The minor females in this case ranged in age from 9 – 15 years old. Schmaltz was eventually caught through the work of a multi-agency investigation in North Florida and South Alabama, where some of the victims were located.
Schmaltz faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment, and lifetime supervision upon release.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said, “Protecting children from online exploitation and abuse is of paramount importance, and my office will aggressively pursue, prosecute, and seek punishment to the fullest extent of the law for those who prey upon our most innocent, vulnerable populations. My message to offenders is clear: if you prey upon our children, you had better pray we don’t find you.”
The case involved a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Dale County Sheriff’s Office as well as Dothan Police Department in South Alabama. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 18, 2025, at 2:00 pm at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
Government Offices, Banks Closed Thursday For Juneteenth
June 18, 2025
Most government offices and services, along with most banks and the post office will be closed this Thursday, June 19, for the Juneteenth holiday.
June 19 observed as a legal holiday in the United States in commemoration of the end of slavery in the U.S. The federal name for this holiday according to the United States Code is Juneteenth National Independence Day
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
In observance of Juneteenth, the following Escambia County offices will be closed Thursday, June 19:
- Escambia County Board of County Commissioners (all departments)
- Escambia County Administration
- Escambia County Area Transit Administrative Offices and Customer Service
- Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare and Animal Shelter
- Escambia County Extension Office
- Escambia County Waste Services Administration
- West Florida Public Libraries (all locations)
- Escambia County Property Appraiser
- Escambia County Supervisor of Elections
- Escambia County Tax Collector
Exceptions:
- The Perdido Landfill will be open with regular hours June 19.
- The Clerk’s Official Records, Finance, Treasury, and Clerk to the Board offices located at 221 Palafox Place will be closed June 19. All other Clerk offices located at the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building, Theodore Bruno Juvenile Building, Public Records Center, and the Century Courthouse will be open.
ECAT
- ECAT will not run regular bus service or UWF trolley service on Thursday, June 19.
- FlexTransit will only run life-sustaining services.
- Pensacola Beach Trolleys will operate on Thursday, June 19 from 4 p.m. until midnight.
ECUA
The ECUA Customer Service office will be closed on Thursday, June 19, in observance of the Juneteenth holiday. However, the drive-thru payment area and all ECUA business offices will be open. All ECUA residential and commercial sanitation collections will be unaffected by the holiday and will be carried out as usual.
TOWN OF CENTURY
All Town of Century offices will be closed on Thursday, June 19 for the Juneteenth holiday.
BANKS, POST OFFICE, UPS, FEDEX
The Juneteenth holiday on Thursday, June 19 is a federal holiday, so most banks and the post office will be closed. There were will be residential or business mail deliveries, but Priority Mail Express is available 365 days per year, including all holidays.
UPS and FedEx pickup and delivery services will be available, according to their websites.
Escambia School Board Approves New Administrators At Ernest Ward, Jim Allen, McArthur And Others
June 18, 2025
Tuesday night, the Escambia County School Board approved several new administrators for the next school year.
They are:
- Brianna Cooks – Curriculum Coordinator at Jim Allen Elementary to Assistant Principal at Jim Allen Elementary
- Stephanie Gilmore – Assistant Principal at Jim Allen Elementary to Principal at McArthur Elementary
- Rodney Drish – Out of District to Assistant Principal at Ernest Ward Middle
- La Tris Garner – Curriculum Coordinator at Navy Point Elementary to Assistant Principal at West Pensacola Elementary
- Joshua Jackson – Assistant Principal at Bailey Middle to Principal at Ferry Pass Middle
- Holly Shumpert – Curriculum Resource teacher Title I to I.B. Coordinator at Pensacola High School
- Emily Watford – School Transformation Specialist to Assistant Principal at O.J. Semmes Elementary
“This opportunity is a blessing that I will not take likely,” Cooks said of her new role as Jim Allen assistant principal.
“Go Eagles! I am excited to work with the staff,” Drish said of Ernest Ward. “I believe we are going to take that school to great heights.” Drish is coming from Pike County Elementary School in Brundidge, Alabama (near Troy) where has been for the past seven years, the last three as principal.
“Thank you for the incredible opportunity to lead McArthur Elementary School,” Gilmore said. “I look forward to working as a united school community to create an environment where every student can thrive.”
The appointments are effective July 1.
Pictured top: Rodney Drish, new assistant principal at Ernest Ward Middle School. Pictured below: Brianna Cooks, new assistant principal at Jim Allen Elementary School. Pictured second below: Stephanie Gilmore, new principal at McArthur Elementary School. The news administrators addressed, and were welcomed by, the Escambia County School Board Tuesday night. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Late Comeback Falls Short, Wahoos Begin Homestand With Extra-Inning Defeat
June 18, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
Pensacola, Fla. – Extra-inning drama had always gone the Blue Wahoos’ way at home this season.
That good fortune ended Tuesday in a near-miss way.
The Blue Wahoos had Grant Richardson thrown out at the plate in a close play Richardson thought he made for the tying run, but it proved decisive in the Montgomery Biscuits’ 4-3 win Tuesday to begin their week-long series at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
It was the first loss in five extra-inning home games for the Blue Wahoos. They were 5-2 in all extended games so far this year.
After Montgomery took the lead in the 10th on a two-out, first pitch single by Matthew Etzel, the Blue Wahoos had their crack.
Richardson started as the placement runner on second. He moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Johnny Olmstead. On a two-strike pitch, catcher Ryan Ignaffo hit a chopper to shortstop Gregory Barrios. With Richardson running on contact, his elusive slide missed the tag from catcher Tatem Levins.
But after a couple seconds of indecision, Levins then tagged Richardson as he tried to touch home and was called out. Blue Wahoos manager Nelson Prada briefly argued, but the decision was made.
Cody Morissette then hit a hard ground out to end the game.
The loss dropped the Blue Wahoos (32-32) back to .500 in a quest to finish the first half schedule Sunday with a winning record. The Biscuits (35-29) kept faint hopes alive in their chase against the Biloxi Shuckers, who entered Tuesday with a four-game lead.
The Blue Wahoos got a third consecutive quality start from right-hander Jacob Miller, who worked six innings, allowed four hits and two runs. The bullpen trio who followed him kept the game close.
Dale Stanavich, in particular, pitched out of a jam in the eighth and followed with a clean ninth.
Montgomery starter Ty Johnson, one of eight players on the Biscuits team ranked among the Top 30 prospects in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Morissette laced a single to centerfield.
It led to a run when Mark Coley II hit a fielder’s choice grounder to score Ignoffo. He had reached on a hit batter, one of the few errant pitches Johnson threw.
The Blue Wahoos tied the game with two runs in the eighth inning on consecutive RBI singles from Coley and Jared Serna.
Nathan Martorella led off the ninth swinging at the first pitch and launching deep to right field, but the ball held up for the first out. The next two batters were retired to force extra innings.
WANT TO GO?
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Montgomery Biscuits vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Wednesday Thru Sunday.
GAMETIMES: The games on Wednesday through Saturday all start at 6:05 p.m. The game on Sunday starts at 4:05 p.m.
Two Charged With Trafficking After Quarter Million Dollar Cocaine Bust In Escambia, Alabama
June 17, 2025
The Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday reported a quarter million dollar drug bust on I-65 in Escambia County, Alabama.
On June 13, the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office Criminal Interdiction Unit conducted a traffic stop on 2023 Cadillac XTS on Interstate 65 northbound resulting in the seizure of approximately 22 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of $250,000.
“This enforcement action highlights the Sheriff’s Office’s commitment to eradicating narcotics not only in the local community, but also any drug trafficking through our country,” Sheriff Heath Jackson said.
The two occupants of the vehicle, Dominick Balli (pictured top) and James Godbe, both residents of Texas, were arrested and charged with cocaine trafficking and booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center will bond set at $1 million each.
Enon Shed Fire Quickly Extinguished After Homeowner Reports Seeing Smoke On Camera
June 17, 2025
A homeowner’s quick call to the fire department led to firefighters quickly extinguishing a storage shed fire Tuesday afternoon in Enon.
The homeowner reportedly made the call for help after seeing smoke on a security camera.
The incident was reported around 12:25 p.m. from a shed located in the 10000 block of Highway 97A, roughly half a mile west of South Highway 99.
Firefighters from Escambia County Fire Rescue’s Molino, Cantonment, and Walnut Hill stations arrived to find smoke from the structure, which was reportedly used for household item storage and equipped with electricity.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and no injuries were reported.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
FHP: U.S. Mail Carrier At Fault In Highway 29 Crash With Improper U-Turn
June 17, 2025
A rural mail carrier was at fault in a two vehicle crash Saturday morning on Highway 29, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report released on Tuesday morning.
The crash happened around 9:40 a.m. on Highway 29 northbound between Cox Road and Sigler Road north of McDavid.
FHP said the 54-year-old mail carrier was traveling south in the grass median, accroaching 2700 North Century Boulevard, when he made an improper U-turn or left turn from the grass median in front of oncoming traffic. The right side of his SUV collided with the left front of a sedan driven by an 18-year-old teen. The mail carrier’s SUV came to rest off the roadway, and the teen’s car rotated until it came to rest in the roadway.
Firefighters extricated the mail carrier from their vehicle following the crash. Both drivers were transported by Newman’s Ambulance and Escambia County EMS to area hospitals.
A representative of the U.S. Post Office in Century collected the mail for later delivery.
The Century and McDavid stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the crash.
NorthEsccambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Case Reopened Against Century Felon Accused Of Aggravated Assault For Hitting Woman With Handgun
June 17, 2025
The State Attorney’s Office has reopened a case against a Century felon accused of striking a woman in the head with a handgun and weapon possession in May 2024.
Kenneth Elbert Hammac, Jr. was originally arrested for the incident last May, but in December 2024, the State Attorney’s Office dropped the charges due to “prosecutorial discretion” but has since reopened the case.
Hammac was arrested again direct file charges of aggravated using a deadly weapon, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon — all felonies.
The female victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that Hammac accused her of cheating before striking her over the head with what she thought flashlight and shoving her into a table. He then pointed a handgun at their 15-year-old son, according to an arrest report.
The 15-year-old told deputies that Hammac pointed a gun at him and demanded to know who had been over, the report continues. The teen told deputies that Hammac struck the victim over the head with the butt of the handgun.
Deputies noted large laceration that bleeding heavily on the disorientated victim’s head and a table covered with blood. She was transported by Escambia County EMS to Jay Hospital for treatment.
According to the ECSO, Hammac is convicted felon, found guilty of possession of cocaine in 2008, and sentenced to two years in state prison.
He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $12,500 bond.
Chumuckla Highway and Five Points Intersection Project Public Meeting Set
June 17, 2025
A public meeting will be held Thursday about the Chumuckla Highway and Five Points Intersection Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study.
The meeting will take place at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 19 at the Don Salter Community Center, 5976 Chumuckla Highway in Pace.
Project Information
Santa Rosa County is conducting a PD&E Study to consider widening C.R. 197 Chumuckla Highway from U.S. 90 to Five Points Intersection. This project is intended to support all modes of transportation by increasing capacity on Chumuckla Highway by widening the roadway to relieve congestion, decrease travel times, and support bicycle and pedestrian movements.
The PD&E Study will consist of developing and evaluating alternative road alignments to determine a preferred alternative that will increase the safe and efficient movement for all modes of transportation.
A public hearing is anticipated to be held winter of 2025. The PD&E Study is anticipated to be completed in spring of 2026. Design, right of way, and construction will follow.