Help The Hungry: Annual Peanut Butter Challenge Underway
October 14, 2020
The annual Peanut Butter Challenge is underway, coordinated by Escambia County Extension, to collect jars of peanut butter to be given to area food pantries this December.
Through November 25, you can donate unopened jars of peanut butter at several locations throughout Escambia County. Drop off boxes can be found at:
- UUF/IFAS Extension – 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Escambia County Farm Bureau – 153 Highway 97, Molino
- Escambia County Public Safety – 6575 N. W St., Pensacola
- Gilmore Services – 21 E. Fairfield Drive, Pensacola
- Holy Spirit Church – 10650 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola
- Perdido Bay United Methodist Church – 13360 Innerarity Point Road, Pensacola
Manufacturing And Skilled Trades Virtual Job Fair Is Next Week
October 14, 2020
CareerSource Escarosa along with its community partners will host the 2020 Manufacturing & Skilled Trades Virtual Job Fair on Thursday, October 22 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
This no-cost event is open to the public. Job-seekers will have the opportunity to network with over 30 employers seeking individuals to fill their open positions.
Employers will be recruiting for positions in manufacturing, production, construction, and skilled trades.
Job seekers will need to be registered on EmployFlorida, have a current resume, and register by clicking or tapping here prior to the event.
Those in need of computer access or assistance may visit a CareerSource Escarosa Job Center:
- Escambia County: 6913 N. 9th Ave. Pensacola (850-607-8748)
- Santa Rosa County: 5725 US-90 Milton (850-983-5325)
Employers wishing to participate will need to register here.
Escambia (AL) Taxi Driver Arrested For Shooting At Another Driver On I-65
October 13, 2020
A taxi driver has been arrested for shooting at a vehicle on I-65 in an apparent road rage incident near Atmore.
Robert E. Boggan, 44, was charged with shooting into an occupied vehicle and reckless endangerment.
The incident happened Sunday on I-65. The victim told the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office that a taxi cab pulled up beside her and the driver motioned for her to roll her window down.
She told deputies that Boggan told her she ran over a tire on the interstate and it had busted his windshield.
“After the victim refused to pull over, Boggan attempted to run her off the road and he attempted to get in front of her and block her path,” Sheriff Heath Jackson said. “The victim stated that while Boggan was beside her vehicle, she heard the sound of something hitting the side of her car. After arriving at a safe location, the victim found bullet holes in the side of her vehicle.sound of something hitting the side of her car. After arriving at a safe location, the victim found bullet holes in the side of her vehicle.”
Boggan remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday afternoon with bond set at $100,000.
Escambia Man Dies In Motorized Bicycle Crash Near Berrydale
October 13, 2020
Man With Century Ties Charged In Baldwin County Double Murder, Investigated In Disappearance Of Crestview Woman
October 13, 2020
A man with Century ties has been charged in a Baldwin County double murder during a drug deal gone bad, and he has been named a person of interest in the disappearance of a Crestview woman three years ago.
Antwon Montrex Smith, 37, is charged with two counts of capital murder for the shooting deaths the two men. The victims’ bodies were found on Baldwin County Road 95 south of Elberta early Friday, and investigators believe they were killed in that immediate area.
The were identified as Ryan Frazier and Joshua Carroll both of the Seattle, Washington area (pictured below). They were both linemen working for a contracting company installing cable lines in the area.
They arrived in Pensacola on October 8 and decided to meet with a “drug associate” identified by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office as Smith. He fled in Frazier’s vehicle.
Smith was arrested driving the vehicle in Mobile Saturday afternoon after a police pursuit. He struck two vehicles before crashing into a brick retaining wall on Springhill Avenue. A firearm, drugs and cash were recovered. The vehicle had a significant amount of blood and ammunition and other evidence in the case, the BCSO said. Frazier’s wallet was also recovered.
The Crestview Police Department has named Smith as a person of interest in a missing persons case. In March 2017, Smith was last person to be seen with his girlfriend Calandra Stallworth. She has never been located. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office later arrested Smith on drug and weapons charges. He was driving Stallworth’s vehicle at the time of his arrest.
Smith has reportedly lived in Century for a good part of the last several years, and also Pensacola. In 2016, Smith was arrested on Jefferson Avenue in Century for possession of methamphetamine. That charge was later dropped. He was also arrested during a 2010 drug raid in Century.
Smith remained in the Mobile County Metro Jail Tuesday afternoon on charges that include possession of heroin and marijuana and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Anyone with information on Smith’s relationship with Stallworth or her disappearance from Crestview is asked to call Crestview Police at (850) 682-3544 or their local law enforcement agency.
Early Morning Fire Destroys Large Barn In Molino
October 13, 2020
An early morning fire destroyed a large barn in Molino Tuesday.
The fire was reported about 4:40 a.m. in the 2100 block of Chance Road, just west of Highway 29. The approximately 40 by 40 foot barn was fully involved when firefighters arrived on scene minutes later. It was a total loss.
It took about 10 minutes for Escambia Fire Rescue to mostly knock down the fire.
The blaze caused some of the vinyl siding to melt on a nearby home. There were no injuries reported.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
New Early Voting Site Will Open In Century For General Election. It’s One Of 10 Across Escambia County.
October 13, 2020
There will be a new early voting site in Century for the general election.
There will be a total of 10 early voting sites in Escambia County open from Monday, October 19 until Saturday, October 31, including the Century site at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse on North Century Boulevard.
“Molino was the farthest north location, but folks from the north end had inquired about a site in Century,” Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford said. “We looked at it and made the determination to add a site up there.”
He said the courthouse at 7500 North Century Boulevard was the best location in Century when compared to the other options of city hall and library, both of which have limited space.
The general election early voting locations in Escambia County will be:
- Billy G. Ward Courthouse, 7500 N Century Blvd, Century
- Molino Community Center, 6450-A Highway 95A, Molino
- Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Mobile Hwy/Pine Forest Rd Early Voting Center, 6675 Pine Forest Rd, Suite 11
- UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, University Parkway
- Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 B, 9th Avenue
- Main Library, 239 Spring Street
- Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor
- Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto Street
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
Each location will be open form 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., October 19-31.
Voters can also cast their ballot by mail or in person at their precinct on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Pictured: The Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Parents Can Now Switch Their Child’s Traditional Or Remote Learning Option
October 13, 2020
Parents have an opportunity to switch their child’s school option in Escambia County, such as returning to face-to-face traditional school from remote learning.
The current nine weeks grading period ends on October 27.
Parents interested in changing their student’s current instructional learning model from remote or virtual back to traditional model will receive information on how to make that enrollment change when contacted by their child’s school. Those calls are taking place now; there’s no need to make the switch in the parent portal.
Parents that plan to move their child back to traditional school are asked to finalize their selection by Tuesday, October 20.
If no change is being made to the student’s instructional learning model, no parent action is necessary.
If a parent wishes to switch their child from traditional face-to-face instruction to virtual or remove , they should contact their child’s school.
Escambia Considers $200 Stipend To Volunteer Firefighters For Hurricane Sally Service
October 13, 2020
The Escambia County Commission is set to approve an extra stipend payment for volunteer firefighters that worked during Hurricane Sally.
If approved, volunteer firefighters that worked during the declared state of emergency will receive an extra $200 each. Four employees that did not meet the required 72 hours in support of Hurricane Sally but did work 70 hours will also receive the $200 stipend.
The estimated total cost of the stipends is less than $6,000 for Hurricane Sally.
The BOCC will vote on stipend resolution to approve the payments at their next regular meeting on October 15.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
October 13, 2020
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the period ending August 20.
(Editor’s Note: FWC fell behind in issuing reports during the pandemic, and reports have remained delayed.)
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Cushing and Lieutenant B. Lambert were on vessel patrol in Bayou Chico when they observed a 37-foot vessel being operated without working navigational lights. They stopped the vessel for a safety inspection and the operator showed signs of impairment. Field sobriety tasks (SFST) were utilized and the operator was arrested for boating under the influence and transported and booked into the Escambia County Jail.
Senior Officer Specialist Clark and Officer Long were on vessel patrol on Escambia Bay when they were dispatched to a possible boating accident. Once on scene they observed two pontoons slowly operating away from the area of the accident. Officer Clark contacted the operator of the first pontoon, and it was determined there was no accident. The operator showed signs of impairment and standardized field sobriety tasks (SFST) were conducted. The operator was arrested for BUI and transported and booked into the Escambia County Jail.
Senior Officer Specialist Clark and Officer Long were on vessel patrol in Pensacola Bay when they were contacted by dispatch to assist Senior Officer Specialist Cushing with a vessel stop at the Navy Point boat ramp. Once on scene Officer Cushing observed the operator and passengers on the vessel were showing signs of impairment. Officer Cushing conducted standardized field sobriety tasks (SFST) on the operator and he was arrested for boating under the influence. A second impaired operator boarded the vessel and attempted to leave the area. The second operator was arrested for BUI and both were transported to the Escambia County Jail. Both operators were charged accordingly.
Senior Officer Specialist Clark was on foot patrol at Galvez Landing boat ramp when he observed a jet ski intermittently getting up on plane in a posted idle zone. Officer Clark gained the attention of the operator and motioned him to come to the dock. While conducting a safety inspection, Officer Clark observed the operator showing signs of impairment and Standardized Field Sobriety Tasks (SFST) were utilized. The operator was arrested for boating under the influence and transported and booked into the Escambia County Jail.
Senior Officer Specialist Clark and Officer Specialist Petty were on water patrol on the ICW near Galvez Landing boat ramp when they observed a vessel violating the idle speed zone. They initiated a vessel stop and instructed the vessel to dock at the nearby boat ramp due to traffic and safety reasons. Officers Clark and Petty contacted the operator and four passengers on the dock. While conducting a safety inspection, Officer Clark observed the operator showing signs of impairment. Standardized Field Sobriety Tasks (SFST) were utilized and the operator was arrested for boating under the influence and transported and booked into the Escambia County Jail.
Officer Cushing observed two fishermen returning to a vehicle near the PensacolaPass. Officer Cushing contacted the fishermen and conducted a resource inspection which found two redfish in the cooler. One of the subjects admitted to catching both fish. The appropriate action was taken for the violations. Officers Ramos and Bower were on vessel patrol near the Pensacola Pass and observed a boat kicking up a “rooster tail” as it departed the beach. A safety inspection was performed, and the operator showed multiple signs of impairment during the inspection. Standardized Field Sobriety Tasks (SFST) were administered and the operator was arrested for Boating Under the Influence (BUI) and booked into the county
jail.
Officers Ramos and Bower were on patrol and observed a vessel violating an Idle speed zone at night. The operator failed to pay attention to directions and continuously adjusted steering and throttle controls on his boat even though the officers instructed him otherwise. During the safety inspection, the operator showed signs of impairment and was asked to complete Standardized Field Sobriety Tasks (SFST). The operator was arrested for BUI and booked into the county jail.
Officer Allgood and Lieutenant Lambert were on vessel patrol in the Ft. McRee area when they noticed a vessel that was leaving the area nearly collide with other vessels. The vessel was stopped for a safety inspection and the operator showed several signs of impairment. The operator agreed to complete Standard Field Sobriety Tasks (SFST), was arrested for boating under the influence and transported to the Escambia County Jail.
Officers in Escambia County created a detail focused on keeping the waterways safe by taking impaired operators off the water. Five individuals were arrested for boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Lugg observed a small stationary vessel within East Bay during unfavorable sea conditions. Officer Lugg observed the vessel molest a marked commercial blue crab trap line and travel to a marked and clearly posted commercial oyster lease and molest an oyster cage within the posted lease. After the vessel maneuvered out of sight, Officer Lugg attempted to locate the vessel and after canvassing several potential locations, a vehicle and trailer were located that matched the vessel. Officer Lugg contacted Officer Wilkenson to assist in the investigation. Information was received from multiple nearby sources that the individuals who launched from the boat ramp matched the suspects observed within the bay. Contact was made with the vessel upon its arrival and a marine fisheries inspection was performed. Twenty-one undersized red drum (19 over the bag limit, 13 over the allotted vessel limit, seven not whole condition), one undersized spotted seatrout (not whole condition), and one stone crab (whole body, out of season) was located. Both individuals were placed under arrest and transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail.
This report represents some events the FWC handled during the time period; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.