Escambia County Tropicana Public Speaking Contest Winners Named
January 26, 2020
Over 1,500 students in grades 4-6 participated in the Escambia County 4-H Tropicana Public Speaking contest. Individual classroom winners advance to the school level before competing at the county contest.
The county-wide contest had 12 public, home, and private school winners who competed at the Langley Bell 4-H Center in Cantonment.
Winners were:
4th/5th Grade
1st place – Aubrey McMillion, Pensacola Beach Elementary
2nd place – Ryan King, R.C. Lipscomb Elementary
3rd place – Erin Reilly, Creative Learning Academy
Honorable mention – Maggie Nutter, Aletheia Christian Academy
Other finalists were: Landon Hommerbocker, Jim Allen Elementary; Ashanti McPherson, Montclair Elementary; Lyra Wilkinson, McArthur Elementary; and Sophia Worley, N.B. Cook Elementary.
Sixth Grade
1st place – Emma Ward, Aletheia Christian Academy
2nd place – Charlotte Wymant, Creative Learning Academy
3rd place – Tucker Padgett, homeschooled
Honorable mention – Maegan Coleman, Ransom Middle School
Students learn how to select a topic, create, write and deliver a speech before an audience.
Escambia County Veterans Court In Need Of Mentors
January 26, 2020
The Escambia County Veterans Court is in need of mentors.
Veterans Treatment Court Judge Gary Bergosh is looking to build upon the program by hosing a kick-off event the Artel Gallery of Pensacola on Wednesday, January 29 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Veterans Treatment Court was initiated in 2015 in Escambia County as a proactive response to justice-involved veterans with non-violent criminal conduct related to mental health and substance abuse issues stemming from military service. The program allows honorably discharged veterans the opportunity to engage in the closely monitored program that requires regular court appearances (a weekly minimum in the early phase of the program), as well as mandatory attendance at treatment sessions and frequent and random testing for substance use.
Bergosh said vterans respond favorably to this structured environment, given their past experiences in the Armed Forces.
“Since establishing Escambia’s Veterans Treatment Court, we have seen decreased incarceration for military veteran non-violent offenders and an increase in the number of veterans receiving substance and mental health assistance,” said Judge Bergosh, a retired Marine Corps officer.
For more information call (850) 595-4388.
Weekly Traffic Alerts – This Week’s State Road Project Slowdowns
January 26, 2020
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and projects in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (State Road (S.R.) 10/U.S. 90A)– Drivers will experience the following traffic impacts the week of Sunday, Jan 26.
o Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass: Alternating lane shifts as crews construct the new southbound bridge.
o U.S. 29 traffic between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road may experience alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations.
- U.S. 98 (Pensacola Bay Bridge) Replacement- There will be intermittent lane closures at the following locations from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the week of Sunday, Jan. 26.
- U.S. 98 east and westbound, from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the Graffiti Bridge.
- · I-10 Routine Maintenance from U.S. 90A and east of Scenic Highway- There will be intermittent and alternating east and westbound lane restrictions between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. from Sunday, Jan. 26 through Tuesday, Jan. 28 for lighting and sign repair.
- · I-10 Bridge Maintenance over U.S. 90A- The eastbound, inside lane will be closed over U.S. 90A, 1.6 miles west of Pine Forest Road, from midnight to 5 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29 as crews repair bridge lights.
- · S.R. 10 / U.S. 90A (Nine Mile Road) Widening from S.R. 297 (Pine Forest Road) to U.S. 29 – Milestone Boulevard will be closed at the intersection of Nine Mile Road at 7 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28. as crews perform drainage work. These operations are anticipated to take seven to ten days to complete. Traffic will be detoured to Littleton Street and Oldenburg Boulevard.
- · S.R. 10 / U.S. 90A (Nine Mile Road) Widening from Beulah Road to S.R. 297 (Pine Forest Road)- The far-right portion of the I-10 off ramp that connects to Nine Mile Road (Exit 5) westbound remains closed. Drivers will be able to access Nine Mile Road east and westbound using the other section of the ramp. The partial ramp closure is needed to reconstruct the ramp and will be in place for through March 2020.
- · U.S. 29 Resurfacing from south of Muscogee Road (County Road/C.R. 184) to Atmore Highway (S.R. 97)– Crews continue paving operations and median work. Drivers may encounter intermittent daytime lane restrictions. Motorists are reminded to watch for crews and heavy equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
- · U.S. 90 (Cervantes Street) from 15th Avenue to 18th Avenue, S.R. 289 (9th Avenue) between Cervantes and Blount Streets; S.R. 291 (Davis Highway/Martin Luther King Jr Drive) between Cervantes and Blount Streets Sanitary Sewer Video- There will be intermittent lane restrictions near selected intersections on Cervantes Street, 9th Avenue, and Davis Highway/ Martin Luther King Jr. Drive from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 27 through Thursday, Jan. 30 as crews inspect sanitary sewer lines.
- · Hanks Road Bridge Replacement over Breastworks Creek- Construction activities continue. Crews are currently pouring the westside approach slab. The roadway is temporarily closed. Drivers on Hanks Road, west of the bridge, are detoured to C.R. 99 and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will utilize Pine Barren Road. The project is anticipated to be complete spring 2020.
- C.R. 168 Bridge Replacement over Unnamed Branch in Northwest Century- Workers are grading, preparing to pour concrete ditch pavement, installing guardrail, and placing temporary striping. Traffic will remain shifted on the temporary diversion until construction of the new structure is complete.
Santa Rosa County:
- · U.S. 98 (Pensacola Bay Bridge) Replacement- There will be intermittent lane closures at the following locations from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the week of Sunday, Jan. 26.
- · U.S. 98 (Navarre Parkway) Turn lane Construction between Serosa Drive and Shellfish Lane- There will be lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 27 through Friday, Jan. 31 as crews construct a new westbound, right turn lane and reconstruct an eastbound, left turn lane at Serosa Drive.
- · U.S. 90 Corridor (Pace) Management Improvement Project- There will be intermittent lane closures from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. near Bostic Lane for drainage work.
- · U.S. 98 Safety Improvement from Villa Woods Circle to Ortega Park Drive- Construction activities continue along the following seven locations: Villa Woods Circle to Marble Court, Oriole Beach Road, Grand Ride Circle to Fordham Parkway, El Rito Drive/College Parkway, American Avenue, Alpine Avenue, and west of Ortega park Drive. Workers continue operations on concrete curb and gutter, traffic separators, base, and irrigation repairs. Motorists may encounter lane closures from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
- U.S. 98 east and westbound, from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the Graffiti Bridge.
- · S.R. 4 Resurfacing and Drainage Improvements from the Escambia River Bridge to C.R. 87A (Market Road) in Jay- There will be shoulder closures throughout the project limits for roadway and utility work.
- · S.R. 87 Bridge Rehabilitation and Repair Over Yellow River- Motorists may encounter daytime southbound, outside lane closures as crews perform expansion joint work.
- · S.R. 87 Turn lane and Median Modifications at South Lynn Road- Northbound, left turn lane and median modifications work continue Operations will take place in the median of the roadway. Motorists can expect intermittent daytime lane closures.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather
Escambia County Unemployment Rate Slips Downward
January 26, 2020
The local unemployment rate trended slightly downward over the past month.
Governor Ron DeSantis said Pensacola area added 1,900 new private-sector jobs in the past year. The area’s unemployment rate was 2.7 percent in December, down 0.5 percentage point from one year ago and one-tenth of a point from one month ago.
The industry with the highest growth over the year in the Pensacola area was leisure and hospitality with 1,300 new jobs.
Statewide, Florida businesses created 16,300 new private-sector jobs in December 2019. Florida’s annual private-sector job growth rate of 2.5 percent continues to exceed the nation’s rate of 1.5 percent. Florida’s unemployment rate of 3.0 percent represents a drop of 0.3 percentage point over the year. This is while 220,000 people entered Florida’s labor force, a growth of 2.1 percent in the past year.
Man Killed In Single Vehicle Chumuckla Highway Crash
January 25, 2020
A 28-year old man was killed in a single vehicle wreck early Saturday morning in Santa Rosa County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Mason Scott Tobin of Pace was traveling on Chumuckla Highway north of Willard Norris Road about 5:10 a.m.. His Chevrolet Tahoe left the roadway and traveled 107 feet before striking a large tree.
Tobin was extricated to his vehicle and airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 6:21 a.m.
DeSantis Flunks Common Core, Announces New State School Standards
January 25, 2020
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday announced a new set of education standards to replace common core, including a requirement that students meet literacy standards based upon their grade level, learn cursive and study the Constitution.
Complete details on Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking — B.E.S.T. — Standards won’t be published on the Florida Department of Education website until next week, but a summary has been made available.
The plan outline includes several major points:
- Eliminate Common Core (Florida Standards) and ensure we return to the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic.
- Provide a roadmap to make Florida’s standards number one in the nation.
- Reflect the Commissioner’s consultation with relevant stakeholders to include parents and teachers.
- Deem how to increase the quality of instructional curriculum.
- Suggest innovative ways to streamline testing.
- Equip high school graduates with a sufficient knowledge of America’s civics, particularly as reflected in the Constitution.
- Outline a pathway for Florida to be the most literate state in the nation.
The plan will remove “confusing/crazy math”, provide targeted instruction for students who struggle with reading, reinforce the the basics of arithmetic before students enter middle school and develop a plan with the goal of reducing the total amount of time students spend testing as well as reducing the total questions on assessments.
The U.S. Constitution will be introduced in the fifth grade under the B.E.S.T. Standards. All high school students will be required to take the Florida Civics Literacy Test. Financial literacy will taught in high school, unlike Common Core that did not teach the basics like balancing a checkbook.
B.E.S.T. Standards will replace state tests with the SAT or ACT, better aligning testing for college readiness.
ECSO Arrests 17 In Burglary Ring, Clearing Up 67 Cases
January 25, 2020
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has made 17 arrests since October in a burglary ring, clearing up 67 cases. Suspects ranged in age from 14 to 22.
Charges include vehicle thefts, vehicle burglaries, carjackings, armed robberies and event shootings. The burglary ring hit areas not only in Escambia County, but also Baldwin, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties.
Deputies are still looking for one additional suspect – 20-year old Salathel Hernadez (pictured).
Those charged include:
- Oreion Lane, 18
- Jacquavious Savage, 18
- Deonte Brown, 17
- Rashawn Posey, 17
- Tony McGee, 16
- Kody Gresh, 18
- Christopher Evans, 19
- Dradoni Ricks, 17
- Jalael Smith, 22
- De’Shawn English, 19
- Terrance Harris, 18
- Steven Prayer, 19
- Roy James, 18
- Jacobi Brown, 18
- Zywan Dees, 16
- Roykerria Posey 14
- Santana Chambers, 14
Anyone with information on the whereabout of Hernandez is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Escambia Man Gets 40 Months For Trying To Sell Equipment To Iran
January 25, 2020
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for conspiring with foreign nationals to ship technology to Iran.
James P. Meharg, 59, pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiring to sell and export power generating equipment to a recipient in Iran as well as making false statements on export documents and international money laundering. Meharg, CEO and president of Turbine Resources International, LLC, located in Pensacola, conspired with citizens of the United Kingdom and Iran to export a large turbine and parts from the United States to an Iranian recipient, in violation of the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations as well as federal criminal law.
According to the indictment, Meharg, a citizen of the United States, conspired from October 1, 2017, to June 12, 2019, to violate the embargo by attempting to export a Solar Mars 90 S turbine core engine and parts from the United States, for delivery to an end user in Iran. On April 25, 2018, the indictment alleges, Meharg sent an invoice for $500,000 to a conspirator in the United Kingdom and received two partial payments of $124,950 each, on May 7 and May 24, 2018, at least one of which was routed through a company in Dubai.
Meharg, a local U.S. citizen, admitted that he conspired from October 1, 2017, to June 12, 2019, to violate the Iranian embargo by attempting to export a Solar Mars 90 S turbine core engine and parts from the United States, for delivery to an end user in Iran. Evidence revealed that on April 25, 2018, Meharg sent an invoice for $500,000 to a conspirator in the United Kingdom and received two partial payments of $124,950 each, on May 7 and May 24, 2018, which were routed through a company in the United Arab Emirates. In total, Meharg received approximately $250,000 in funds laundered through foreign accounts as payment for having the turbine sent to Iran. Law enforcement authorities, however, were able to seize the turbine before its transatlantic journey to the end user in Iran. That end user, a conspirator in Iran, is linked to an Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemical company. Meharg also admitted to falsifying documents used to export items from the Pensacola area.
“Exporting technology to Iran is prohibited for a very good reason, and this defendant chose to put his own self-interest above the national security needs of the United States of America,” Keefe said. “This case should send a clear signal that the United States cannot and will not look the other way when one of its citizens endangers the safety of our nation and its people.”
Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg, who is a National Security Cyber Specialist, is prosecuting the case following a joint investigation by the United States Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Woman Arrested At Holman Prison With Gun, Narcotics In Her Vehicle
January 25, 2020
The Alabama Department of Corrections reports a woman was arrested with a gun and narcotics in her vehicle outside Holman Prison in Atmore.
On Saturday, January 18, at approximately 12:50 p.m., a narcotic-detection canine alerted to a vehicle on property at Holman. After a search, an ADOC investigator discovered marijuana and a handgun in the vehicle.
The driver, identified as Amelia Allen, 43, of Moundville, Alabama, was on prison property to visit an inmate. The ADOC investigator who completed the search placed Allen into custody and charged her with second-degree possession of marijuana.
“My department is fully committed to eliminating the presence of illegal contraband throughout our facilities,” said ADOC Commissioner Jeff Dunn. “Addressing this nationwide challenge in our state’s facilities is a crucial step to providing a safe, rehabilitative environment. We will continue to take this commitment seriously through regular contraband raids as well as heightened security to ensure illegal paraphernalia does not enter our facilities from external parties.”
Funeral Services Announced For Former Longtime Brewton Mayor Ted Jennings
January 25, 2020
Funeral services have been announced for former longtime Brewton Mayor Ted Jennings, 75. He passed away January 20 while on vacation in Georgia.
Visitation will be held Sunday night, January 26 from 6-8 p.m. at the Brewton First United Methodist Church. A celebration of life service will be held Monday, January 27 at 1 p.m. at the Brewton First United Methodist Church.
Family is asking that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to: Greater Brewton Foundation C/O Stephanie Walker, P.O. Box 87, Brewton, Alabama 36426, or donations made to Drexell and Honeybees.
Jennings served as Brewton’s mayor from 1998 to 2012, and also worked as a local pharmacist.
Jennings is former president of the Alabama League of Municipalities where he continued to work with the League and the Municipal Workers Compensation Fund as a staff member of Millennium Risk Managers.
He is survived by his wife Susan, five children and numerous other relatives and friends