Meet Shorty, The Beagle K-9 That Tracked Down Suspect That Shot At Deputies
September 1, 2020
When an Escambia County man opened fired and became involved in a gun battle with deputies last Friday it was ultimately a cute little beagle named Shorty that tracked him down in the woods near the Perdido River.
“So here he is! After helping the ECSO apprehend an armed suspect in the woods last Friday, K9 shorty was able to take a quick break from crime fighting for a picture with Chief Deputy Chip Simmons and Lt. Simms from the Escambia County Road Camp,” the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office wrote on social media.
While Shortly ultimately found the suspect, the manhunt included the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Pensacola Police Department, Santa Rosa County Sheriffs’ Office, FWC, Escambia County Corrections, Escambia County EMS, Florida Highway Patrol, U.S. Marshals and other agencies.
Pictured: Shorty with Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Chip Simmons and Lt. Simms from the Escambia County Road Camp. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
State Inmate In Atmore Dies After Testing Positive COVID-19 In Local Hospital
September 1, 2020
A 33-year prison inmate died positive for COVID-19 has died at an Atmore hospital.
Jonathan Mallory, a 33-year-old inmate who was serving a 20-year sentence for first-degree assault and a 25-year sentence for first-degree robbery out of Calhoun County at Fountain Correctional Facility in Atmore passed away on Thursday, the Alabama Department Corrections acknowledged late Monday afternoon.
Mallory was admitted to a local hospital for treatment of an unrelated medical condition on July 10. He tested negative for COVID-19 upon admission. He was retested for COVID-19 on July 16 and returned a positive result. He remained under the care of the hospital until his passing, ADOC said. An official cause of the death has not yet been released.
A total of 18 inmates and 24 employees at Fountain have tested positive. At nearby Holman Prison, 13 inmates and 18 employees have also tested positive.
Century Seeks Public Input As They Consider Applying For Up To $2.2 Million In Grants
September 1, 2020
The Town of Century is seeking public input at an upcoming meeting as they consider applying for up to $2.2 million in state grants.
The town is considering applying to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) for a Fiscal Year 2019 Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The Town is eligible to apply for up to $700,000 in the Neighborhood Revitalization, Commercial Revitalization and Housing Rehabilitation categories and up to $1.5 million in the Economic Development category.
Construction activities funded through the CDBG program must meet one of the following national objectives:
- To provide benefit to low and moderate income persons;
- Prevent or eliminate or elimination or slums or blight conditions;
- To meet a need of recent origin having a particular urgency.
The categories for which these funds may be used are in the areas of housing or neighborhood revitalization, commercial revitalization, and economic development.
For each activity that is proposed, at least 70% of the funds must benefit low and moderate income persons.
The public hearing will be held on September 8. Click here for more information (pdf).
Man Catches New State Record 69.9 Pound Flathead Catfish In Santa Rosa County
September 1, 2020
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has certified a new state record flathead catfish caught in Santa Rosa County.
The fish weighed in at 69.9 pounds, measured 48.5 inches long and had a girth of 38.25. Angler Lavon Nowling caught the fish on a rod and reel using live bait in the Yellow River.
“I’ve caught some good ones before this fish, but none of them were more than 54 pounds,” said Nowling. “I’ve been fishing since I was old enough to hold a pole and have been fishing on Yellow River as long as I can remember.”
Nowling brought his catch to the FWC’s Blackwater Hatchery near Holt, where biologists weighed it on a certified scale. The last state record flathead catfish was caught in 2019 on the same river. That fish was caught by Marvin Griffin and weighed 69.3 pounds.
“I’ve been deep sea fishing to creek fishing and I never expected to catch a state record fish,” said Nowling. “That day I was fishing for channel catfish and can’t believe I caught a huge flathead. I was in the right place at the right time.”
Flathead catfish are a nonnative fish found in many northwest Florida Panhandle river systems. Flatheads prefer long, slow flowing, moderately turbid rivers. Their solitary lifestyle makes them more difficult to catch than other catfish. Adult flathead catfish feed primarily on live fish, crawfish, freshwater clams and mussels.
“A state record catch is a once in a lifetime achievement for an angler,” said Jon Fury, FWC’s Director for the Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management. “We are pleased to award this state record to Mr. Nowling.”
To properly certify a new freshwater Florida state record, an FWC employee must witness its weighing on a certified scale and a biologist must identify the species.
ECSO Poll: The Name ‘Sadie’ Was Tops For New K-9 Cop Bloodhound
September 1, 2020
The name Sadie was the top name in an online poll to pick the name for a new Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit puppy.
The pup is nine months old and is the agency’s first bloodhound. She will be assigned to Sergeant Biggs, and her main job will be to conduct searches for missing people or suspects.
The ECSO had narrowed her name down to three choices: Sadie, Izzy or Stella.
When voting closed Monday afternoon, Sadie was tops with 44.1% of the vote. Stella was a close second at 40%, and Izzy was far less popular with 15.9% of the vote.
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Reliance Arrives Onboard NAS Pensacola
September 1, 2020
The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Reliance arrived at their new homeport onboard NAS Pensacola Monday, after a nearly month-long patrol of the Windward Pass between Cuba, the Bahamas and Haiti.
The Reliance joins the Coast Guard Cutters Diligence, Decisive, Dauntless and Cypress onboard NAS Pensacola.
“It’s very exciting to be on the pier as we welcome the Coast Guard Cutter Reliance to NAS Pensacola — the fourth of the Coast Guard cutters that will be stationed here,” said Capt. Tim Kinsella, commanding officer, NAS Pensacola. “It’s especially exciting to have the Reliance here — being the namesake for this class of the cutters.”
Reliance departed her former homeport at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine on July 6, sailing for the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, Maryland to effect repairs to the propulsion shafts.
Reliance sailed from the Coast Guard Yard to begin her patrol of the Windward Pass, August 5. While patrolling the Caribbean, the Reliance operated alongside interagency and international partners to prevent dangerous, illegal maritime migration. The patrol included the repatriation of 16 Haitian migrants, participation in a search for survivors of a capsized Haitian vessel, shipboard training and storm avoidance.
“Reliance’s departure from Kittery, Maine, brings an end to 31 years of faithful service in the North Atlantic,” said Cmdr. Robert Hill, commanding officer, Coast Guard Cutter Reliance. “The crew has performed exceptionally during our patrol amidst the challenges faced by COVID-19 and multiple tropical storms that arose. I could not be prouder of this crew and know that we are ready to continue our service in Pensacola, where the Coast Guard has strategically clustered part of its 210′ cutter fleet for logistical support and proximity to our mission area of responsibility.”
The homeport shift to Pensacola marks the second time Reliance has been homeported in Florida; Reliance was homeported in Port Canaveral from 1982 until 1987.
“It’s definitely a different environment for the crew,” Hill said. “Reliance, typically in the North Atlantic, was doing a lot of fisheries enforcement boarding, so our missions down here are a change of pace, but the crew is excited to be here. We are looking forward to it.”
Kinsella met Hill following the cutter’s arrival and welcomed Reliance and her crew to the NAS Pensacola family.
“We look forward to working with them throughout their time here, and helping them to do their mission wherever they deploy — whether it be to the Eastern Pacific, the Gulf of Mexico or even the Atlantic,” Kinsella said. “We are very happy to be partnering with them to help them continue their mission.”
Reliance (WMEC-615) is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter. It is the first of the 210′ Medium Endurance Cutter Fleet and the fourth Revenue Cutter/Coast Guard Cutter to bear the name Reliance. The cutter’s primary missions are counter drug operations, migrant interdiction, enforcing federal fishery laws, and search and rescue in support of Coast Guard operations throughout the Western Hemisphere.
Photos: Joshua Cox for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
18-Year Killed When He Fell Out Of Moving Pickup Truck Near Atmore
August 31, 2020
An 18-year old was killed when he fell from a moving pickup truck northwest of Atmore.
Alabama State Troopers said Garrett D. Phillips of Robertsdale fell from the moving truck shortly after midnight Sunday. The 2002 Toyota Tacoma was being driven by 19-year old William D. Ray of Robertsdale on Kent Road in western Escambia County, between Jack Springs Road and Lottie Road.
Further information has not been released as troopers continue their investigation.
Century Bridge Near Collapse Remains Unrepaired Seven Months After It Was Closed
August 31, 2020
A bridge in the Century town remains closed without repair seven months after it was discovered to be near the point of collapse.
On January 29, the town suddenly closed the bridge on Freedom Road, just east of Jefferson Avenue.
Photos obtained by NorthEscambia.com a few days later showed the dangerous conditions that led to the emergency closure.
Several pilings under the wooden bridge were no longer properly supporting the structure, and some of the pilings were split or have extreme deterioration.
In early February, the Century Town Council voted to move forward with replacing the bridge. Town staff was to determine how to pay the estimated $300,000 price tag. The council voted for the replacement over an estimated $75,000 to $100,000 for repairs that might last a decade, according to Interim City Manager Vernon Prather.
A final determination of a funding option was to come at un upcoming meeting.
In January Mott McDonald engineers conducted a limited inspection of the bridge and found the following problems:
- A backwall has deflected toward the water, pushing piles toward the water and causing them to rotate, split and no longer bear weight.
- One bridge piling has a split at the top of the pile, but it is providing some support.
- A second pile has been pushed completely out and no longer supports the bridge.
- A third pile has split, and only half the pile is providing support.
- A fourth pile has deterioration with only a three-inch diameter section remaining about six feet below the bridge. The outer pile section has broken.
- There is soil loss behind a backwall.
- There is a large void underneath the roadway on the east side the bridge
“We cannot predict when the…backwall lateral loads will complete fail…causing the bridge the collapse,” engineer Bart Hendricks wrote in his report. “We also cannot predict when the roadway over the void on the southeast corner will collapse”
The age of the bridge was not provided to the engineer, but he determined the timber pilings may be at or beyond the typical life of 30 years. “A better long-term financial decision may be to replace this structure rather than perform repairs,” Hendricks wrote.
Mott McDonald engineers also recommended that the town perform bridge inspections for all bridges that are not inspected by the Florida Department of Transportation. Those inspections are required every two years for longer bridges by the Federal Highway Administration. The town has not moved forward with the inspections.
Photos/graphics for and by NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Hold Steady After Hurricane Laura
August 31, 2020
Florida gas prices have held relatively steady since Hurricane Laura made landfall along the Gulf Coast. The region is home to nearly half of total petroleum refining capacity in the United States. However, only about 15% of total US capacity shutdown as a precaution before the storm.
Florida gas prices averaged $2.07 per gallon, on Sunday. The state average is the same as a week ago, 8 cents less than last month, and 38 cents per gallon less than this time last year.
In Escambia County, the average price per gallon Sunday night was $2.09. The lowest price to be found in North Escambia was in Cantonment at $2.07, while a few Pensacola stations were below $2.
So far, there are no reports of significant long-term damage to gulf coast fuel supply chain, which provides gasoline to states like Florida. However, two refineries in Lake Charles, Louisiana are still conducting damage assessments.
“Normally, when a storm of this size hits the gulf coast refinery region, drivers see a jump in prices at the pump,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “However, gas prices have been held in check, likely due to lower demand because of the pandemic. Florida gas prices didn’t move much last week, but there could be a lag. Wholesale gasoline prices did get more expensive last week, which could cause retail prices to get slightly more expensive in the days ahead.”
To date, Florida gas prices averaged $2.10 per gallon for the month of August. That’s the lowest monthly price for August since 2004.
For The Second Time, Escambia County Suspends Use Of Inmate Crews Due To Positive COVID-19 Case
August 31, 2020
For the second time, Escambia County Corrections has suspended the use of inmate labor due a positive COVID-19 case.
Escambia County Corrections received a positive COVID-19 test result at the work annex, formerly known as the road prison. As a precaution, Escambia County said Sunday that road crew operations have been suspended. The services include groundskeeping throughout the county and support to the landfill, animal services, code enforcement and fleet maintenance.
“Corrections officers and medical teams continue to monitor inmates and recognized that this male inmate had an elevated temperature,” Escambia County Corrections Chief Rich Powell said. “Corrections is working with Community Health Northwest Florida to establish rapid testing for road crew inmates for their health and welfare as well as to minimize the impact on services that are provided throughout the county. Fortunately, medical staff advises that no inmates are presenting medical concerns at this time. We are continuing to clean more frequently to try to prevent further spread of COVID-19, and masks continue to be available for all inmates.”
As of Friday, 236 inmates have been tested since July at the Escambia County Jail for COVID-19.
“There were 158 positive cases and 149 of those cases have been medically cleared and eight have been released from custody, leaving one active positive case on Friday with no medical concerns at this time and 78 negative tests. At the Walton County jail, 29 Escambia County inmates tested positive out of the 146 inmates housed there,” according to the county statement.
The county received its first positive COVID-19 test result at the work annex on July 9 and suspended road crew operations through July 28.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.