Molino Man Sentenced To Life In Prison For Child Molestation
January 3, 2020
A Molino man has been sentenced to life in prison for child molestation.
Dennis Lister Odom, 60, was found guilty by an Escambia County jury on two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation. Friday, he received the life sentence on the first count and 15 years on the second count. He will also be listed as a sexual predator.
Odom has another pending case of two counts of lewd or Lascivious molestation involving a different victim. The case is currently set for status conference on January 15, 2020.
From June 2017 through September 2018, Odom fondled a young girl left in his care. She disclosed the abuse to family members in September 2018, and Odom was arrested in October 2018. After Odom’s arrest, another young girl came forward and disclosed that she had also been molested by Odom over the course of several years.
He faced a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years in state prison.
ECSO Looking For Attempted Murder Suspect
January 3, 2020
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a shooting suspect.
Phillip Isaac Bivins, 18, is wanted for attempted murder for a shooting on Thursday. The ECSO says he is considered armed and dangerous.
The Pensacola Police Department responded to Bayou Boulevard after a vehicle crashed into a ditch Thursday afternoon. They discovered a person in the car had been shot three times on Tryton Circle in the county.
Bivins and the victim got into an argument over how a blunt — a marijuana cigarette — was rolled, according to the ECSO. They decided to go to Tryton Circle to settle the dispute with a fight, but when the victim arrived, Bivins allegedly shot him.
Anyone with information on the shooting or the whereabouts of Bivins is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
I-10 Exit To Nine Mile Road To Be Partially Closed For Three Months
January 3, 2020
[Updated with map - 10 a.m.] The Florida Department of Transportation plans a partial closure of an I-10 exit ramp to Nine Mile Road that will last three months.
Exit 5 eastbound from I-10 to Nine Mile Road will be partially closed beginning Monday, January 6. Construction crews will only close the section that connects to Nine Mile Road westbound. Drivers will be able to access Nine Mile Road both 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 approximately three months, according to FDOT.
All construction activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors
New Low Cost Transportation Service Available Between Century And Jay Health Care Facilities
January 3, 2020
A new transportation service between health care facilities in Century and Jay kicks off today.
The service is sponsored by the non-profit Northwest Florida Rural Health Network “in an effort to assist with the provision of access to quality healthcare for residents of northern Santa Rosa and Escambia counties,” said Director Gary Owens.
The shuttle van will run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at a cost of $2 one way or $3 for a round trip. It will depart the Jay Medical Center and Jay Hospital at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and make a round trip to the Century Medical Center on Highway 29 and Lakeview Center and Community Health of Northwest Florida on Industrial Boulevard in Century. Owens said the van can make stops at no additional charge at the dialysis center and the nursing home in Century.
“We’ve been trying to get this off the ground for 10 years, and we are finally at that point with a grant,” Owens said. The grant was provided by VITAS Healthcare. “We have a lot of a folks in Jay that need dialysis (in Century), and a lot of people in Century that need to get to the hospital and the doctors in Jay.”
“This is just a beginning; we will be able to make tweaks to the service in the future,” he said.
For more information, contact the Northwest Florida Rural Health Network at (850) 675-4787 Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Pictured: Community Health of Northwest Florida and Lakeview Center in Century, one of the stops on a new transportation service serving Century and Jay. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Mobile Home North Of Jay A Total Loss To Fire, But Firefighters Save Most Contents
January 3, 2020
A mobile home north of Jay was a total loss to fire Thursday night, but firefighters were able to remove and save most of the contents.
The fire in the 6000 block of Old Pollard Road, just south of the Florida-Alabama state line, was reported about 6 p.m.
The homeowner was at home a heard a popping noise just before the smoke alarm activated in the single-wide mobile home, according to Jay Fire Chief Tony Simmons.
“Upon our arrival there was heavy smoke under the structure and soon after flames were showing. It appears to be an electrical short,” Simmons said. There were no injuries.
The Jay, Berrydale, Allentown and Century fire stations responded, along with Lifeguard ambulance and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UPDATE: Man Claimed To Have A Bomb As He Robbed Publix Liquor Store
January 3, 2020
The Publix Liquor store at Nine Mile and University was robbed Thursday night by a man that said he had a bomb.
A black male wearing a red hoodie walked into the store and demanded money just before 9 p.m., according to Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Andrew Hobbs. The suspect claimed to have a bomb, but never showed anything resembling a bomb to the cashier.
The cashier complied with his demands and the suspect fled the store.
A perimeter was established as deputies searched for the suspect. At last report, he remained at large. No bomb was located.
Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured top and bottom: The Public Liquor store at University Town Center was robbed Thursday night. Pictured first below: Deputies search the area for a suspect. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Florida Department Of Corrections Announces $1,000 Hiring Bonuses
January 3, 2020
The Florida Department of Corrections has announced $1,000 hiring bonuses for new hires at several institutions statewide, including the Santa Rosa Correctional Institution in Milton.
Applicants who complete their correctional officer certification through either FDC or certain state colleges will be eligible for the bonus. Paid training is available through the program.
The bonus program does not include the Century Correctional Institution.
Certified new hires are eligible to receive bonuses at the following institutions:
- Apalachee Correctional Institution (Sneads)
- Calhoun Correctional Institution (Blountstown)
- Columbia Correctional Institution (Lake City)
- Cross City Correctional Institution (Cross City)
- Dade Correctional Institution (Florida City)
- Franklin Correctional Institution (Carrabelle)
- Florida State Prison (Raiford)
- Gulf Correctional Institution (Wewahitchka)
- Hamilton Correctional Institution (Jasper)
- Hardee Correctional Institution (Bowling Green)
- Liberty Correctional institution (Bristol)
- Madison Correctional Institution (Madison)
- Martin Correctional Institution (Indiantown)
- Mayo Correction Institution (Mayo)
- New River Correctional Institution (Raiford)
- Northwest Florida Reception Center (Chipley)
- Okeechobee Correctional Institution (Okeechobee)
- Reception and Medical Center (Lake Butler)
- Santa Rosa Correctional Institution (Milton)
- South Florida Reception Center (Doral)
- Suwannee Correctional Institution (Live Oak)
- Taylor Correctional Institution (Perry)
- Tomoka Correctional institution (Daytona Beach)
- Union Correctional Institution (Raiford)
- Wakulla Correctional Institution (Crawfordville)
- Walton Correctional Institution (De Funiak Springs)
For more information regarding a career with the Florida Department of Corrections, visit FLDOCjobs.com.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Bratt Elementary Names Students Of The Month
January 3, 2020
Bratt Elementary School has named Students of the Month for December. They are:
Pre-K
- Suzi Pope
- Emerson Salter
Kindergarten
- Christian Madison
- Avannah Anthony
- Aayden Johnson
- Hendrix Ward
First Grade
- Maverick Kelson
- Cory Stetson
- Weston Spicer
- Emma Kate Norton
Second Grade
- Bentley Lowery
- Walker Morris
- Linley Dunn
- Aislynn Tomerlin
Third Grade
- Maybree Johnson
- Mason Helton
- Nathan Gilmore
- Kelashia Randle
Fourth Grade
- Brody Hall
- Camden Jacobson
- Billy Zhang
- Wyatt Spence
Fifth Grade
- Kylee Langham
- Wesley Lambeth
- Kaylee Long
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Rear End Crash Involving ECUA Truck
January 2, 2020
A driver was injured in a rear-end collision with an ECUA work truck Thursday morning in Cantonment.
The crash happened on Highway 297A near the Bentley Oaks Estates subdivision when the driver of a passenger car collided with the rear of an ECUA truck. One person was transported to the hospital by Escambia County EMS for treatment of their injuries.
The Florida Highway Patrol has not released additional information as they investigate.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Minimum Wage In Florida Increased With The New Year
January 2, 2020
Florida’s minimum wage increased a dime per hour on January 1, from $8.46 to $8.56.
An eight hour work day at minimum wage, not including taxes, will now net $68.48 for a worker, up from $67.68.
Tipped workers will also saw a small increase to $5.54 per hour, up from $5.44.
Florida voters will have a chance to further increase the minimum wage later this year. If 60% of voters approve a constitutional amendment on the November ballot, the minimum wage will jump to $10 an hour on September 30, 2021, and increase by $1 per hour each year until topping out at $15 an hour on September 30, 2026.