By The Numbers: Hurricane Sally Assistance In Escambia County
November 13, 2020
Since the federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Sally, Escambia County residents have received approximately $89.6 million in total federal funds.
Individual Assistance (as of Nov. 9):
- 4,463 homeowners and renters have been approved for nearly $18.2 million in federal grants through FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program. This includes:
- More than $14 million in Housing Assistance grants for housing repair costs, home replacement and rental payments.
- Nearly $4.2 million in Other Needs Assistance grants to replace essential household items and for other critical disaster-related costs.
- 3,023 homeowners and renters were approved for rental assistance.
- 4,224 survivors have not provided FEMA with the necessary information from their insurance settlements to complete their disaster assistance registration.
National Flood Insurance Program (as of Nov. 10):
2,389 flood insurance claims have been filed. An estimated $42.8 million has been paid in claims.
U.S. Small Business Administration (as of Nov. 8):
More than $28.6 million has been approved in low-interest disaster loans for 796 homeowners, renters and businesses.
Cantonment Man Charged With Stealing Motorcycle From Inside Escambia Business
November 13, 2020
A Cantonment man was charged with burglary and vehicle theft for allegedly stealing a motorcycle from inside an Escambia County business.
Thomas Jay Hewes, 43, was charged with burglary of an occupied structure, grand theft of a motor vehicle and criminal mischief.
Hewes allegedly stole a Suzuki motorcycle valued at $7,500 from inside a motorcycle shop in the 2300 block of North Pace Boulevard between 2:15 and 4 a.m. on October 10. The motorcycle belonged to an individual, but was at the shop to be sold.
He allegedly forced his way into the business, causing about $200 in damage to a door, while an employee was inside asleep, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
Hewes remained in the Escambia County Jail Friday morning with bond set at $18,500. Jail records also indicate that he is wanted by the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
15-Year Old Arrested Following Shooting Wednesday In Century
November 12, 2020
A 15-year old is facing felony charges following a shooting Wednesday afternoon in Century, but he has not been charged for the shooting.
Travis Lavar Scott, Jr., was arrested on felony gun charge in connection with the shooting on Jefferson Avenue, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He was also arrested on an outstanding felony warrant for aggravated battery in an unrelated incident.
The investigation into the shooting is continuing.
The adult male was shot in the chest after an altercation erupted during a card game near an outside shed in the backyard of a mobile home, according to the ECSO. The victim was airlifted to a Mobile hospital in critical condition.
The shooting happened in the 6700 block of Jefferson Avenue, near East Pond Street. The name of the victim has not been released.
Pictured above: Deputies question Travis Lavar Scott, Jr., age 15, following a shooting Wednesday in Century. Pictured below: A man was shot after an altercation erupted during a card game at this shed behind a mobile home in Century Wednesday afternoon. Pictured bottom: The scene on Jefferson Avenue. NorthEscambia.com photos, click top enlarge.
Molino Man Arrested On Drug Charges After ECSO Executes Search Warrant
November 12, 2020
A Molino man was arrested on multiple drug related charges after a search warrant was executed at a local residence.
Shannon Ray Edmonson, 31,was charged with two counts of possession of marijuana with the intent to sell, possession of a controlled substance (Alprazolam), possession of a controlled substance (THC) with the intent to sell, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit and SWAT team executed the search warrant in the 7300 block of Brickyard Road as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation.
During a search of the residence, the ECSO reported locating items including marijuana, THC vape pen cartridges, two digital scales, two pill bottles containing Alprazolam, owe sheets, and nine firearms.
Edmonson claimed ownership of the illegal contraband, the report states. He was later released from the Escambia County Jail on a $21,000 bond.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
November 12, 2020
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the period ending October 8.
While on patrol on Escambia River, Officer Mullins and Lieutenant Berryman located numerous illegal bush hook lines. The lines were untagged and illegally baited with a bream, a game species. Officer Mullins and Lieutenant Berryman sat on these lines for most of the night, with Officer Roberson assisting in the morning. A subject was identified and observed checking these lines. Contact was made with the subject as he positioned to pull another illegal line which had caught a flathead catfish. The subject possessed three illegally caught fish which were seized. The subject was cited for the illegal use of a game species as bait, and for untagged bush hook lines.
Officer Mullins located a junked jet ski which had been illegally dumped at Quintette boat ramp on the Escambia River. Through the course of an investigation, potential suspects were identified, and it was discovered that the jet ski had been sitting in two of the suspects front yard for well over a year. The officer spoke with numerous witnesses and obtained a confession from the subjects for dumping the jet ski. Officer Mullins filed several misdemeanor charges for illegal dumping.
Officer Ramos discovered evidence that the illegal harvest of Saw Palmetto Berries was occurring on several Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) in Santa Rosa county. With the assistance of Pilot Tolbert, Lieutenant Berryman, and Officers Jackson, Lewis and Lugg the team apprehended 11 suspects whom had illegally harvested nearly 1,300 pounds of berries. The suspects were trespassed from the WMAs and issued over 50 citations and warnings for the illegal activity. The berries were returned to the lead managing agency of the WMA.
Officer Ramos was on patrol in the Santa Rosa Sound when he observed a vessel violating an idle speed zone. A small 18’ vessel was found to have 16 people on board and only six personal flotation devices (PFD). During the boating safety inspection Officer Ramos detected signs of impairment from the operator and administered a series of standardized field sobriety tasks (SFST). The operator was arrested for Boating Under the Influence (BUI) and transported to the county jail.
Officer Ramos was on patrol in the Santa Rosa Sound and observed two personal watercraft (PWC) operating dangerously close to one another at high speeds. He stopped the two PWC’s to conduct a safety inspection and educate the two riders about careless operation and found that neither PWC had registration documentation. While speaking with the subjects, Officer Ramos detected signs of impairment. Standardized field sobriety tasks (SFST) were performed, and one operator was arrested for BUI and transported to the county jail where she refused to submit to a breath test. She was charged with operating a vessel while normal faculties impaired and booked into 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.
Volunteers Needed For Escambia County Extension Council
November 12, 2020
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking Escambia County residents interested in volunteering to be considered for an appointment to the Escambia County Extension Council for zones 2, 5, 10 and 12.
Escambia County residents interested in serving on the Escambia County Extension Council, who meet the requirements noted in the job description below, are asked to submit an information sheet and letter indicating their desire to serve by 5 p.m., Friday, November 13. Info sheets and letters should be submitted via email to shendrix@ufl.edu or by mail to: Susan Hendrix 3740 Stefani Road Cantonment, Florida 32533.
The zones are as follows:
Zone 2 — South of intersection @ Highway 164 & Highway 97 to North side of Tungoil Road.
Zone 5 — North side of Quintette Road to South side Molino Road
Zone 10 — At Large
Zone 12 — At Large
The Escambia County Extension Council was established in accordance with Chapter 67-1366, Section I- 8 Florida Statutes. The purpose of this council is to study the needs of the county in developing its natural resources, its families and youth; to provide for the organization of planning committees in various agricultural commodities, in youth and in all phases of home economics important to Escambia County; to provide for close liaison between the committees, county extension agents and the council; and to coordinate the reports of all committees into a single Escambia County resource development program designed to d
evelop the county’s resources and its people through programs for which the Cooperative Extension Service has a responsibility for initiating or coordinating. Council members serve a two-year term of office.
Emily West Named Jim Allen Elementary School Teacher Of The Year
November 12, 2020
Third grade teacher Emily West has been named the Jim Allen Elementary School Teacher of the Year. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Fire Department’s New Engine 27 Is Now In Service
November 12, 2020
The Jay Fire Department’s new Engine 27 is now in service and running calls.
The Pierce Saber Chassis truck has a 1,000 gallon tank and a variety of rescue and firefighting equipment.
In addition to answering calls in the Jay area, the Jay Fire Department also responds toother districts in Santa Rosa County and mutual aid calls in northern Escambia County in Florida including Century, and Escambia County in Alabama including Flomaton.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Former Ernest Ward Middle Band Director Sentenced To Prison On Child Sex Charge
November 11, 2020
A former band director at Ernest Ward Middle School has been sentenced to state prison on a child sex charge.
James David McAllister entered a plea to one count of traveling to meet a minor to engage in sexual conduct. He was designated as a sexual predator and sentenced to 24 months in prison to be followed by 12 months of sex offender probation.
McAllister, age 35 of Cantonment, was the band and chorus director at Ernest Ward Middle School. McAllister led the music departments at the school in Walnut Hill during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years.
He reportedly interned or completed his student teaching at Bailey Middle School prior to his tenure at Ernest Ward.
The charge against McAllister was in no way connected to his employment or time at Ernest Ward Middle School.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office undercover “Operation Rotten Pumpkin” ended with the arrest of McAllister and six other men in November 2019.
While chatting with McAllister using the app “Meet Me’, an ECSO investigator clearly identified herself as a 14-year old female. In graphic detail, McAllister stated he wanted to have sexual intercourse with the girl.
McAllister asked for and received the address to meet what he thought was the underage girl at a local hotel. He was instead met by the SWAT team and deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Pictured above and below: James McAllister leads the Ernest Ward Middle School band and chorus during a Christmas program December 16, 2016. Pictured bottom: McAllister leads the entire Ernest Ward Middle School student body in Christmas carols on December 16, 2016. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Accelerates Plans To Switch Plant Crist To Natural Gas Delivered Through North Escambia Pipeline
November 11, 2020
Gulf Power is accelerating plants to switch Plant Crist to natural gas delivered by a pipeline through North Escambia.
Tuesday, Gulf Power notified the Florida Public Service Commission that it plans to retire the plant’s coal assets early and switch to 100% natural gas. That, the company says, will result in benefits to the local community as well as cost savings for customers.
Converting coal-burning units to run on natural gas is a major piece of the modernization underway at Plant Crist, along with the addition of four new, highly efficient combustion turbines to provide greater reliability and efficiency for the energy grid and a new natural gas pipeline to provide additional natural gas for the plant. By eliminating the use of coal at Plant Crist, Gulf Power will reduce the plant’s carbon emissions rate by 40% – the equivalent to taking an estimated 297,000 cars off the road annually – and reduce operating costs for customers.
Over the past several months, Gulf Power has installed an underground natural gas pipeline that runs 39 miles from the Florida Gas Transmission Pipeline near Century, through McDavid, Molino and Cantonment, to the company’s Plant Crist.
The retirement of coal at Plant Crist was accelerated by Hurricane Sally, which caused damage to the plant’s coal equipment. The company determined that it is in the best interests of its customers to accelerate the modernization instead of repairing the coal equipment.
“Retiring coal at Plant Crist will end our use of coal in Florida and help usher in a new, cleaner energy era for Gulf Power,” said Marlene Santos, president of Gulf Power. “Ending our use of coal delivers benefits for our customers and our communities through lower costs along with cleaner emissions. We look forward to continuing to invest in cleaner energy solutions for Northwest Florida, including more efficient natural gas technology as well as emissions-free solar farms.”
Gulf Power is seeking approval to adjust the company’s Environmental Cost Recovery Clause (ECRC) factor for 2021 to reflect the savings associated with the early retirement of coal at Plant Crist and to begin recovering storm restoration costs for Sally. If approved by the FPSC, both adjustments to customer bills would likely take effect in March 2021 and result in a net decrease in the typical residential customer bill of $0.73.
Pictured top: Bright yellow new pipes threaded throughout the inside and outside of Plant Crist this year are the visible signs of the coal to natural gas conversion that will allow the plant to run 100% on U.S. produced natural gas. Pictured inset: A crane hoists one of the larger pieces of new equipment at Plant Crist, a gas heater, into place at the Plant Crist gas yard as part of the coal to natural gas conversion. The heater will warm the natural gas to keep it from freezing in the pressure control valves that send the gas from the pipeline to the power plant. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.