ECSO Honors Fallen Officers During Service At Newly Completed Memorial
May 16, 2025
Thursday, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office held the first Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony at the new Memorial Plaza to honor our deputies killed in the line of duty. The families and friends of those who were remembered gathered to place a rose on the new Escambia County Sheriff’s Office memorial.
Roll Call of Heroes:
- Town Hall Marshall Daniel Douglas – End of Watch 1893
- Sheriff A. Cary Ellis – End of Watch 1923
- Constable Mallory Williams – End of Watch 1941
- DS Joseph Elmer Whitworth – End of Watch 1954
- Constable WM. “Clint” Rigby – End of Watch 1955
- Patrolman Roland Davis, Sr. – End of Watch 1955
- DS Len B. Adams – End of Watch 1958
- DS Joseph Mallory Gassman – End of Watch 1966
- DS Charles Leroy Wilkerson – End of Watch 1974
- DS Morley “Buddy” Ray – End of Watch 1978
- DS Floyd “Doug” Heist – End of Watch 1980
- CPL. Eric Byron Streeter – End of Watch 1984
- DS Donald Ray Cook – End of Watch 1988
- DS Sgt. Dennis Mathis – End of Watch 1989
- Sgt. Roosevelt Walker, Jr. – End of Watch 1998
- Lt. George Hura, Jr. – End of Watch 2004
- K-9 Wolf – End of Watch 2000
- K-9 Erny – End of Watch 2000
The new memorial plaza is a focal point in front of the main Sheriff’s Office on Leonard Street, reinforcing its symbolic importance. The newly designed space offers a place where memories are shared, where grief is met with support, and where citizens can all come together–united in appreciation for those who sacrificed their lives for our safety.
Under a partnership with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Foundation, no tax dollars were used for the construction.
Northview’s New Coach Is Ready As The Chiefs Face Vernon In Scrimmage Tonight
May 16, 2025
UPDATE: This game has already taken place, but the story has been left in place to allow access to the photo gallery.
The Northview Chiefs will hit the road for a spring scrimmage tonight at Vernon.
For new Northview head coach Doug Vickery, it will be a first look at the Chiefs in action since he took over the program a few weeks ago. After 19 years at Flomaton, Vickery crossed the state line after Wes Summerford took the head coaching job at West Florida High School.
“I’ve been getting to know the kids,” Vickery said following a practice this week. “Relationships are the most important things, so I’ve tried to emphasize that with the guys. The group that we’ve got out here is very bought-in.”
“There are some experienced football players that that they’ve already played a lot of football, and so they know a lot about football, so that transition from just knowing the game has been a little bit smoother than I thought.
“The kids work hard and have great attitudes, so that part’s been really simple,” he said. “The biggest thing for me is being somewhere for 20 years and making that change. It’s kind of like having it on cruise control, and now I’ve got to do some different things, but it’s a great situation.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Vernon. Admission is $8 at the gate or Gofman.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs run drills this week in preparation to face Vernon Friday night in a spring scrimmage game. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Spring Football Jamboree Tonight At Tate (And A Sneak Peek At Special Concession Menu)
May 16, 2025
The Escambia County Spring Jamboree will be held Friday night at Tate High School.
Games will begin at 5:30 p.m. as follows:
Game 1- Tate vs Pensacola
Game 2- Pensacola vs Pine Forest
Game 3- Pine Forest vs Escambia
Game 4- Escambia vs Catholic
Game 5- Tate vs Catholic
Each game is one quarter in length, and each game will be held upon completion of the previous game.
Parking is $2 for the event, and tickets are available on GoFan.
CONCESSIONS
Combos (includes a chip and drink)
- Chick-Fil-A Sandwich Combo – $12
- Hamburger or Cheeseburger Combo – $10
A La Carte
- Chick-Fil-A Sandwich – $8
- Hamburger or Cheeseburger – $6
- Nachos – $5
- with jalapeño – $6
- Drink (soda cans) – $2
- Chips – $2
- Candy – $2
- Water – $1
Newcomer Trimble Ignites Rally In Wahoos’ Comeback Win
May 16, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos opted to take batting practice Thursday under the stadium at their indoor facility, then curtailed pregame workouts 30 minutes early. All of a sudden, their offense turned on brighter than Christmas tree lights.
A day after enduring a 9-0 defeat, Pensacola matched that run total with eight different players reaching base multiple times to win a 9-6 slugfest against the Rocket City Trash Pandas at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Taking on their alternate identity as the Pensacola Mullets on Mullets Thursday, the team broke an extended slump at the plate to score the second-most runs this season.
It was also the first time the Blue Wahoos (21-15) won a game this season when allowing more than five runs. In this case, they also tied the game twice in the first four innings, then exploded for a five-run sixth inning to pull away.
Centerfielder Fenwick Trimble, who joined the team Tuesday in a promotion from the Beloit Sky Carp, the Miami Marlins’ High-A affiliate, had one of the biggest hits, which was also his first hit at the Double-A level. His run-scoring double in the sixth ignited the big rally and he later came around to score on a single.
“Lot of fun,” he said afterward, before getting doused by teammates by an ice bucket in the post-game interview. “These guys are really welcoming and really good to me so far, so it’s a lot of fun. “I’m just trying to continue what I’ve been doing and see pitches and handle the strike zone and things worked out.”
The team bounced back in a big way from a deflating loss Wednesday on Education Day with school children filling the ballpark. The Blue Wahoos produced 12 hits with Kemp Alderman the most notable. He went 3-for-5 with an RBI in a confidence-building day at the plate.
Johnny Olmstead had two innings, including a second-inning solo home run. Shane Sasaki went 2-for-3 and scored two runs.
In swinging the bats unlike they have done in more than a week, the Blue Wahoos bolstered their pitching staff.
Evan Fitterer struggled in his sixth start, a second rough outing in a row. He worked four innings, allowed four runs, walked five and struck out four. He was relieved by Alex Williams, who joined the team May 11 from Beloit. Williams worked three innings to earn his first Double-A win with the Blue Wahoos, after going three innings, allowing two runs, but no walks.
Dale Stanavich earned his sixth save with two stellar innings to seal the game.
The Blue Wahoos had all of this offense, despite having two runners picked off and two others thrown out at the plate in the first four innings. But in the fourth inning, the team produced a rally with two out. Five consecutive batters reached base with hits or walks. Sasaki had a run-scoring single, Trimble drew a bases-loaded walk and Jared Serna followed with an RBI hit.
In the sixth inning, trailing 6-4, the Blue Wahoos batted around with eight consecutive batters reaching after one out.
The win game the Blue Wahoos a 2-1 series lead against the Trash Pandas (11-23) heading to the three weekend games.
Working Together Again: Rep. Salzman, New Century Mayor Discuss Town’s Future
May 15, 2025
Century Mayor Ben Boutwell, who was sworn into office just last Friday, and Rep. Michelle Salzman held a sit-down meeting over lunch on Wednesday to talk about Century’s future.
In August 2004, Salzman instated a process that ultimately led to the state terminating about $15.6 million in grants with Century during the administration of former mayor Luis Gomez, Jr. At the time, Salzman said she went to the Florida Auditor General to look at everything involving grants to Century and look for any concerns or red flags.
Monday, Salzman and Boutwell sat down to look at where Century is, and where Century is headed.
“I met with the mayor of Century for a productive and encouraging discussion about the town’s progress,” Salzman said. “We reviewed funding allocations from previous years and explored the current development stages of several key projects. It was a positive and forward-looking meeting, centered on our shared vision for the future of Century. We also reflected on the significance of returning to serve in our respective roles and expressed our excitement about continuing to work together to support the community’s growth and success.”
“It was a wonderful visit,” Boutwell said. “We had good talks for the town — the future, future growth, economic development and how the north end of the county is going to grow….Getting Century’s infrastructure prepared for it, and we have started; the wastewater project started this week. It was a great visit, and we look forward to working together again.”
Northview High School Names Students Of The Month
May 15, 2025
Northview High School recently named their April Students of the Month. They are Brandon Odom and JaCee Dortch, pictured with Principal Michael Sherrill. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Three Arrested At Pace Pharmacy For Alleged Pill Mill Scheme. Here’s What To Know.
May 15, 2025
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) today arrested Pace Pharmacy pharmacists Stephen Allen Burklow and David Barron Winkles and pharmacy office manager Monique Burklow. The suspects are charged with conspiring to traffic prescription drugs including trafficking over 22 kilograms (48 pounds) of oxycodone, over 26 kilograms (57 pounds) of hydrocodone and just shy of one kilogram of hydromorphone. The Burklows are the owners of Pace Pharmacy LLC.
The arrests are the result of a multi-year, multi-agency investigation led by FDLE with assistance from the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Department of Financial Services, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
“In our communities, there is no room for criminals that greedily profit from the opioid epidemic by trafficking illicit drugs under the guise of a legitimate pharmacy,” said FDLE Pensacola Special Agent in Charge Chris Williams. “I am proud of the complex and dedicated work demonstrated by FDLE’s agents, crime intelligence analysts and forensic scientists, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office investigators, and the work of all of our partners to get these thugs off our streets.”
“These arrests are a result of excellent teamwork between law enforcement agencies,” said Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson. “This sends a clear message that no one is above the law, not even those entrusted with our community’s health. The illegal distribution of controlled substances puts lives at risk and fuels addiction. We will continue to hold individuals accountable who choose to profit from this type of criminal behavior.”
Stephen Burklow, 54, of Pace, was arrested on conspiracy to traffic oxycodone, conspiracy to traffic hydrocodone, conspiracy to traffic hydromorphone, conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and five counts of identity theft.
Winkles, 69, of Pace, was arrested on conspiracy to traffic schedule II-controlled substances and conspiracy to commit racketeering.
Monique Burklow, 58, of Pace, was arrested on conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to sell controlled substances.
FDLE’s investigation began in December 2020, after learning that a local obstetrician-gynecologist, later identified as Dr. Elaine Sharp, was writing an excessive amount of controlled substance prescriptions and recommending her patients fill the prescriptions at Pace Pharmacy. During this same time, FDLE was working jointly with multiple state, local and federal agencies to investigate numerous allegations of a pill mill operation in the area.
Agents say the Burklows and Winkles accepted and dispensed illicit prescriptions (including oxycodone, hydromorphone and hydrocodone) outside the course of professional practice and not intended for medical purpose or need. Additionally, Mr. Burklow, through the Pace Pharmacy, billed multiple insurance companies, using various physicians’ National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers without their knowledge or consent to do so, for prescriptions that may or may not have been provided to patients.
The trio were arrested without incident and booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail. The cases will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, First Judicial Circuit.
Pictured: (L-R) Monique Burklow, Stephen Allen Burklow, and David Barron Winkles.
Two Injured In Crash That Shutdown Highway 29 Wednesday Afternoon
May 15, 2025
Two people were injured in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon on Highway 29 near Quintette Road.
The crash happened around 5:15 p.m. and involved a SUV and a sedan.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the 16-year-old male driver of a SUV failed to yield at the stop sign at the end of Quintette Road. He entered the path of the sedan, which was driven by a 33-year-old Flomaton man.
One of the injured was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital by medical helicopter.
The crash shutdown Highway 29 both northbound and southbound.
FHP cited the teen for failing to yield at the stop sign.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Corrections Welcomes 12 New Officer Trainees
May 15, 2025
Escambia County Corrections has announced that 12 new corrections officers will be joining the department after successfully graduating from George Stone Criminal Justice Training Center as Corrections Academy #127.
The officer trainees were among 22 graduates at in the corrections academy at the George Stone Criminal Justice Training Center, marking the completion of a rigorous 420-hour training program designed to prepare them for careers in corrections.
New Escambia County corrections graduates include Laton Bates, Casie Cassaras, Brandon Danielson, Hannah Forte, Cody Fryman, Wesley Hart, James Kessler, Andrew Manning, Austin McLean, Geneva Simmons, Corey Tolbirt, and Thomas White.
“These graduates have worked hard and shown exceptional dedication to public service,” Escambia County Corrections Captain Shawn Hankins said. “We are proud to have twelve of them join our team, and we look forward to their success.”
Over the course of three months, the trainees participated in an intensive curriculum that combined physical training, academic studies, and hands-on certifications. The program, recognized for its demanding nature, equipped the students with the skills and knowledge necessary to handle the complexities of working in corrections.
The training curriculum covered essential topics including defensive tactics, physical fitness, and specialized certifications such as CPR, first aid, and firearms. Students also participated in academic courses that explored the legal, ethical and procedural aspects of corrections work.
To further encourage qualified individuals to pursue careers in Corrections, Escambia County Corrections is offering sign-on bonuses for certified corrections officers and officer trainees. Certified Corrections Officers are eligible for an $8,000 sign-on bonus, and officer trainees who want to join the George Stone Corrections Academy and become certified are eligible for a $5,000 sign-on bonus, plus a paid scholarship to attend the Corrections Academy.
Wild Pitching Costs Wahoos In 9-0 Loss
May 15, 2025
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos struggled to find the strike zone in their Education Day game on Wednesday afternoon, falling 9-0 to the Rocket City Trash Pandas.
Pensacola pitching walked six batters and hit five more, giving the Trash Pandas free baserunners throughout the game. Robby Snelling (L, 2-3) took the loss, allowing five runs in 4.0+ innings as Rocket City evened up the series at one game apiece.
Snelling, who struggled in the first inning in a disappointing start last week in Biloxi, had trouble out of the gate again against the Trash Pandas. Three walks, including two with the bases loaded to Christian Moore and Jaxx Groshans, gave Rocket City a quick 2-0 lead.
That would turn out to be more than enough for Joel Hurtado (W, 3-2), who worked 7.0 scoreless innings on only 83 pitches. The Pensacola offense managed just three singles against the hard-throwing righthander.
The Trash Pandas added another run in the third inning on a Myles Emmerson double, and chased Snelling from the game in the fifth with three singles to load the bases with nobody out. Ricky DeVito entered and hit two batters on consecutive pitches, forcing in two more runs. DeVito would hit two more batters in the sixth inning, tying a Southern League record with four hit batsmen over 2.1 innings. Three Pensacola errors allowed both free baserunners to score in the sixth, extending the Rocket City lead to 7-0.
Two more Rocket City runs scored in the seventh on a Sam Brown RBI groundout and a wild pitch. José Quijada and Camden Minacci worked the final two innings for the Trash Pandas to complete a four-hit shutout.
Pensacola reliever Nigel Belgrave was a bright spot, striking out seven batters over 2.2 scoreless innings.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Trash Pandas on Thursday night. First pitch from Blue Wahoos Stadium is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.