Inmate On Death Row Gets Another Death Sentence For Killing Cellmate
November 18, 2019
An inmate already on Florida’s death row has received another death sentence for the first degree premeditated murder of a Santa Rosa Correctional Institute inmate.
Rocky Ali Beamon previously pled guilty to the January 2017 murder of inmate Nicholas Anderson.
Beamon and Anderson were cellmates at the Santa Rosa Correctional Institution. Beamon punched the victim in the face, tied his hands and feet together, and strangled him with bed sheets. Beamon also stabbed the Anderson in the neck with a homemade weapon, but the cause of death was strangulation.
At the time of the murder, Beamon was already serving a life sentence for a 2005 murder case from Hillsborough County. Earlier this year, Beamon was sentenced to death for the July 5, 2012, murder of an inmate at the Apalachee Correctional Institution in Jackson County.
The investigation was conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Century Grapples With Unpermitted Sewage Sludge Deliberately Dumped In Pond
November 18, 2019
Century is grappling with with unpermitted sewage sludge deliberately dumped in a pond at the town’s wastewater treatment facility (WWTF).
The WWTF reject pond is designed to receive up to 675,000 gallons of effluent that does not meet permit requirements in order to protect surface waters.
As the town was removing floating grasses and weeds from the pond in order to resolve a deficiency listed in a September warning letter from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, it was discovered that biosolids were improperly dumped in the pond. According to the EPA, biosolids are treated sewer sludge.
“The diversion of biosolids to the reject pond is the result of deliberate action of prior staff,” according to Interim City Manager Buz Eddy. It is believed the action may have occurred several years ago, resulting in a pond filled with sludge about six feet deep.
Eddy estimated it will take 112 truck loads to remove the sludge at a cost of $106,400 with a possible discount due to volume.
The town will receive proposals to clean the pond for approval at a later date.
Pictured: The reject pond at the Century Wastewater Treatment Facility. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Book Fair This Week At Kingsfield Elementary
November 18, 2019
The Fall Book Fair is this week at Kingsfield Elementary School.
There are two chances for the public to shop — during Goodies with Grands Tuesday from 1-3 p.m. or Family Night on Thursday from 4-6.
For more information and to shop online, click here.
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A Brush With Kindness: Pensacola Habitat, Church Paint Cantonment Homes
November 18, 2019
Volunteers from Habitat from Pensacola Habitat for Humanity and the Life Changing Experience Worship Center took part in A Brush With Kindness project this past weekend to paint two houses in the Carver Park area of Cantonment.
Volunteers from the Institute for Human & Machine Cognition also volunteered with Habitat to frame new construction Beland Road, just off Chemstrand Road.
For more information on how to volunteer with Pensacola Habitat for Humanity, visit pensacolahabitat.org or call (850) 434-5456 .
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two houses in the Carver Park community were painted over the weekend through the Brush with Kindness program.
Pensacola Habitat for Humanity
Woman Charged With DUI After Crashing Into FHP Patrol Vehicle
November 18, 2019
An Escambia County woman was charged with driving under the influence after hitting a Florida Highway Patrol patrol vehicle on I-110 Saturday night.
The FHP trooper was blocking an outside lane of the interstate with traffic cones and his Dodge Charger with emergency lights activated at 10:50 p.m.
Stacy M. Paros, 45, failed to move over veered into the lane, striking a traffic cone and the left front of the patrol vehicle, according to a FHP report. She was charged with a DUI and a violation of the move over law. She was later released from the Escambia County Jail on a $500 bond.
There were no injuries in the crash.
This was the second crash involving a FHP trooper in which a driver was charged with DUI during the weekend in Escambia County. For details on the first crash, click here.
Florida Gas Prices Drift Downward Over The Past Week
November 18, 2019
Florida gas prices drifted down a few cents over the last week, according to AAA.
The average price per gallon across the state was $2.37, down three cents from a week ago.
In Escambia County, the average price was $2.36. Sunday night, one Cantonment station was at $2.28.
“On average, Florida drivers are now paying the lowest price for gasoline since February,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Strong gains in fuel supplies and flat crude prices are contributing to the downturn in prices at the pump. Drivers are now paying 43 cents per gallon less than this year’s highest daily price – set back in April. Thanksgiving Day gas prices are poised to be the lowest for the holiday in three years, so long as the state average remains below $2.45 per gallon.”
Where To Expect Road Construction Delays This Week
November 18, 2019
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. In observance of Thanksgiving holidays, there will be no lane closures on state roads from 7 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27 to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1. These lane closure restrictions include both construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- State Road (S.R.) 10/U.S. 90A (Nine Mile Road) Widening from S.R. 297 (Pine Forest Road) to U.S. 29 – Ashland Avenue will be closed at the intersection of Nine Mile Road through Wednesday, Nov. 20. The closure will enable crews to place drainage pipes across the roadway Traffic will be detoured to Stefani and 9 1/2 Mile roads.
- U.S. 29 Resurfacing from south of Muscogee Road (County Road/C.R. 184) to Atmore Highway (S.R. 97) – Northbound motorists may encounter nighttime lane closures on U.S. 29 as crews continue paving operations. Also, both northbound and southbound traffic may encounter intermittent daytime lane restrictions as crews perform median work. Motorists are reminded to watch for crews and heavy equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (S.R. 10/U.S. 90A)– Drivers will experience the following impacts to traffic the week of Sunday, Nov. 17.
o Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass: Alternating east and westbound 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- Bridge construction may require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the week of Sunday, Nov. 17.
- Intermittent lane closures on U.S. 98 east and westbound, from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to 2,000 feet east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola, between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- · I-110 Routine Bridge Maintenance over Brent Lane- There will be intermittent and alternating northbound lane restrictions over Brent Lane from 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18 to 4 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 as crews perform bridge joint repairs.
- · S.R. 298 (Lillian Highway) Shoulder Widening between Blue Angel Highway and Fairfield Drive- Lillian Highway will be closed between Blue Angel Highway and Fairfield Drive from 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 as crews widen the existing shoulder.
- · I-110 Routine Bridge Maintenance over Texar Drive- There will be intermittent and alternating northbound lane restrictions over Texar Drive from 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 to 4 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20 as crews perform bridge joint repairs.
- · C.R. 168 Bridge Replacement over Unnamed Branch in Northwest Century- All piles have been driven and pile caps poured for the new bridge. Crews are currently working on placing rebar reinforcement for the bridge deck in preparation of pouring the deck slab. Traffic will remain shifted on the temporary diversion until construction of the new bridge has been completed.
- · Hanks Road Bridge Replacement over Breastworks Creek- Construction activities continue. 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 late 2019.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Safety Improvement from Villa Woods Circle to Ortega Park Drive- Construction activities continue near Villa Woods. Motorists may encounter lane closures from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
- U.S. 98 (Pensacola Bay Bridge) Replacement- Bridge construction may require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the week of Sunday, Nov. 17.
o Intermittent lane closures on U.S. 98 east and westbound, from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to 2,000 feet east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
o Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola, between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- · S.R. 4 Resurfacing and Drainage Improvements from the Escambia River Bridge to C.R. 87A (Market Road) in Jay- Motorists may encounter daytime lane restrictions near Jay as utility crews perform operations in the area.
- S.R. 87 Bridge Rehabilitation and Repair Over Yellow River- Motorists may encounter southbound intermittent lane closures as crews begin expansion joint work. Vessel traffic will be maintained along the Yellow River during construction. There will be signage and buoy-type channelization devices directing boaters through the work zone.
- S.R. 87 Turn lane and Median Modifications at South Lynn Road- Northbound left turn lane and median modifications work begins week of Monday, Nov. 18. Operations will begin in the median area of the roadway. Motorists can expect intermittent daytime lane closures.
- S.R. 87 Pavement Markings Replacement- Traffic will encounter alternating and intermittent minor delays between Nicholas Lake Road and Vonnie Tolbert Road from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday until Tuesday, Dec. 31 as crews remove and replace pavement markings in the roadway. Law enforcement will be on site to direct traffic.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Escambia County Meetings This Week
November 18, 2019
Monday, November 18
Executive Session – 8 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, Board Chambers
Board of County Commissioners Public Forum – 8:30 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, Board Chambers
BCC Regular Meeting – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, Board Chambers (Agenda)
Executive Session – 10:30 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, Board Chambers
Tuesday, November 19
Board of Electrical Examiners – 9 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Health Facilities Authority – 4 p.m., 1019 N. 12th Ave.
Wednesday, November 20
Board of Adjustment – 8:30 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Visit Pensacola Board of Directors Meeting – 3 p.m., 1144 Airport Blvd.
Santa Rosa Island Authority Committee Meeting – 5 p.m., 1 Via de Luna, Pensacola Beach
Thursday, November 21
Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District – 9 a.m., 151 Highway 97, Molino
Friday, November 22
Value Adjustment Board Hearings – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, Board Chambers
Escambia County Widening, Paving Haupert Lane In Molino
November 17, 2019
Escambia County is widening and paving Haupert Lane in Molino. It’s part of the county’s ongoing dirt road paving projects.
Haupert Lane is about a half mile long, running west off South Highway 99 north of Molino Road.
Pictured: Work on Haupert Lane in Molino earlier this month. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Driver Charged With DUI After Striking FHP Trooper’s Vehicle
November 17, 2019
A Gulf Breeze man was charged with driving under the influence Saturday after crashing into a Florida Highway Patrol trooper in Escambia County.
The FHP said Trooper Chad Lynch was attempting a traffic stop with his emergency lights activated on Beverly Parkway when a Ford Explorer driven by 18-year old John McCleod III struck the left side of the patrol car.
McLeod was subsequently charged with DUI, possession of narcotics and failure to maintain a single lane.
There were no injuries in the crash.