What’s That Being Built In Molino? It’s Bigger Than You Think
December 4, 2019
NorthEscambia.com has received numerous questions about what is being built along Highway 29 near Jimmy’s Grill, and we’ve learned that it involves a project much larger than the 18 acre lot.
“Gulf Power is using as a staging site for the pipe in preparation for the construction of the Crist Lateral Pipeline,” said Kimberly Blair, spokesperson for Gulf Power. The property is located on the east side of Highway 29 just south of Chance Road.
As NorthEscambia.com first reported last February, Gulf Power is constructing an underground natural gas pipeline from Century to Plant Crist, a power plant that is being converted from coal burning to natural gas.
The proposed natural gas pipeline will run about 39 miles from the existing Florida Gas Transmission Pipeline near the Florida/Alabama border outside Century south through McDavid, Molino and Cantonment to Plant Crist on Pate Street just northwest of the University of West Florida. Over 85 percent of the proposed route will be located on existing right of way like Gulf Power transmission line corridors.
“Construction is expected to be begin in early 2020, after we receive all permits,” Blair said Tuesday.
The Gulf Power documents indicate the conversion of Plant Crist to natural gas will mean cleaner energy and projected lower bills for customers. It is estimated the project would create 375 “good-paying” jobs at peak construction and $37 million in tax revenue for Escambia County during the 35-year operating life of the pipeline.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
OK. That’s Weird. And Kind Of Creepy. And It’s Going Viral.
December 4, 2019
It’s weird, and kind of creepy at the same time. And like a bad meme, it’s going viral locally on social media.
It’s a really big stuffed dog sitting in the ditch facing northbound vehicles on Pine Barren Road. Round a curve northbound at night and there it is, staring back.
That part of Pine Barren Road is, well as the name implies, a lonely stretch through the woods. Pitch black at night. Truth is it’s the kind place you would expect something creepy after watching the wrong movie.
Pictures of the dog were posted on Facebook and Instagram Tuesday night with all kinds of theories…from it was just trash tossed on a lonely road, to it’s bait to lure people into the woods, to it was dropped off by aliens. Toss in a creepy clown with a red balloon meme, and you get a viral post. And maybe a few chill bumps. And the urge to call your momma for a comforting voice.
Is it innocent roadside trash, a practical joke or the makings of a horror movie?
NorthEscambia.com headed out just after midnight to solve the mystery. Before we made it to Pine Barren Road, a black cat crossed the road in front of us. Seriously happened, and admittingly would not be a good omen for the superstitious. But we pressed on for the story.
We photographed the dog, and yes we got out of the car. Nothing bad happened. At one point, a fog began to move over the dog (pictured below). A little unnerving, until you remember it’s cold and it’s exhaust from the car.
Things were moving in the woods. And we did see eyes looking back from the woods nearby…those woods are full of a lot of deer and who knows what else.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate High Graduate Wins Food Network’s Great Cookie Challenge
December 4, 2019
A Tate High School graduate has won a national cooking baking championship.
Stephanie Torres, who graduate from Tate in 2009, won the $10,000 grand prize in the “Christmas Cookie Challenge” that aired Monday on The Food Network.
Torres and the other bakers face challenges that included making Christmas cards and tree toppers from cookies.
“This experience was surreal. When I was contacted last December to see if I was interested in interviewing, I really didn’t think I would want to even try to be on the show,” Torres said. “I really didn’t think I would want to even try to be on the show. I was unsure of leaving Addie for 5 days, I wasn’t even sure if I had the personality to be in a competition like this, and I was unsure of how my mental health would respond if I utterly failed! Thankfully, with the help of my friends and family, I took the leap and went through the crazy interview process and found out I was casted.”
The show was filmed last February, but she had to keep the results secret until the final episode aired.
Torres now lives in Hialeah Gardens, Florida, with her husband and children where she operates the Little Love Cookie Company. She was a culinary specialist in the Coast Guard for six years, and her husband is still active duty.
Photos courtesy Food Network for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Family Members Identify Fiery Fatal Crash Victim As Atmore Native
December 4, 2019
Family members have identified the victim of a fiery fatal crash as an Atmore man.
They say 28-year old Randell Gordon Nichols, Jr. passed away in the crash about 3:30 a.m. Friday, November 29 near Brushy Creek on Deere Creek Road, just north of Alabama-Florida state line. Nichols only person found inside the burned vehicle.
Nichols’ obituary says he was an Atmore native now living in Birmingham and was in Atmore for Thanksgiving.
Alabama State Troopers did not immediately release Nichols’ name following the crash as they worked to make a positive identification.
Jim Allen Fifth Graders Decorate Escambia Sheriff’s Office Christmas Tree
December 4, 2019
Fifth grade students from Jim Allen Elementary School decorated the Christmas tree in the lobby of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday.
It’s an idea that started with Jim Allen’s school resource officer. Over the last few weeks , the students worked to create the handmade ornaments to trim the tree.
For a photo gallery, click here.
“We’ve got some folks that the holidays are a huge deal at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. They are people that, guess what, reach out to our community. So, when we can draw the school systems into this, itjust makes it that much better,” Sheriff Morgan says.
This was the first year students have decorated the ECSO tree, but Morgan says they will invite the students back year.
The Jim Allen students also got a behind the scenes tour of the ECSO including the dispatch center, and they also saw a K-9 demonstration and met the people and horses of of the mounted posse.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, including photos courtesy NewsRadio 92.3/1620, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Beach Lifeguards Holding Tryouts
December 4, 2019
Pensacola Beach Lifeguards will host two tryout events in December for a job with a starting pay of $14.57 per hour.
Tryout dates:
- Saturday, Dec. 7 at 11 a.m
- Saturday, Dec. 14 at 11 a.m.
The tryouts will take place at the University of West Florida Aquatic Center, located at 11000 University Parkway, Bldg. 72. Applicants are asked to arrive at least 15 minutes early and to bring all relevant certifications to the tryout event.
Position requirements for employment include the following:
- Able to swim 600 yards in a pool in 10 minutes or less
- Able to run 1.5 miles on a track in 12 minutes or less
- Be at least 16 years old
- Possess a valid driver’s license
- American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification is preferred
Attending and passing a tryout is required to be considered for employment. If you pass the physical tests in the allotted time and meet all of the other requirements, you will be scheduled for an interview. If selected to be hired, you will receive paid training. Training includes, but is not limited to, successfully passing 80 hours of open water training and emergency medical training.
Click here if you are a student at an accredited secondary school, vocational school, college or university to fill out an online application prior to the tryout. Students must be currently enrolled or have intent to enroll next term.
Click here if you are a non-student to fill out an online application prior to the tryout.
Stafford Announces Availability Of 2020 College Scholarship
December 4, 2019
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford has announced the 2020 Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections (FSASE) college scholarship. Three $1,200 scholarships will be awarded this summer by FSASE for the 2020 school year.
The scholarship is available to juniors or seniors attending an accredited Florida university or college, with a major in: political science, public or business administration, or journalism/mass communications. Among the requirements, students must have maintained a “C” average or above the previous year, demonstrate financial need and be registered to vote.
Copies of the application and full eligibility requirements may be downloaded from the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections website at EscambiaVotes.com or may be picked up at the Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor. Completed applications must reach the Supervisor’s office by close of business Friday, February 28, 2020.
Stafford will forward one application with a written recommendation to the FSASE Scholarship Committee, which will review the submissions from all 67 Florida counties. The scholarships will be awarded by the Association and the winner will be announced at the 2020 FSASE Summer Conference in May.
Students from Escambia County were scholarship winners in 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2016.
Gas Leak Closes Part Of Nine Mile Road Near I-10
December 3, 2019
A portion of Nine Mile Road was closed due to a gas leak Tuesday afternoon.
Westbound Nine Mile at near I-10 was closed for a short time due to a broken natural gas main. The Florida Department of Transportation advised the roadway was reopened about 3 p.m.
The leak was reportedly caused when a backhoe struck a 6-inch gas main. Pensacola Energy was on scene making repairs.
Married Former Escambia County Deputies Arrested
December 3, 2019
Two former Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies, a husband and wife, have been charged in connection with falsifying training records.
Lisa Hall is charged with falsifying records for Kelly Hall showing that Kelly had completed required training when in fact he had not. Kelly Hall is charged with allowing Lisa Hall to falsify those reports when he had not done the online training.
The investigation revealed that Lisa Hall’s training sessions were completed immediately prior to Kelly Hall’s often within single minutes of one another, while Kelly Hall was documented to be performing other tasks, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins.
Kelly Hall was terminated from his job, while Lisa Hall resigned.
The charges are the result of an investigation into the alleged falsification of mandatory training records pertaining to their employment with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, from 2014 to 2019.
Both were booked into the Escambia County Jail Monday night and released on $16,000 bond each a short time later.
The mugshots of both Halls are exempt from release under Florida law due to their status as former law enforcement.
Woman, Her Mother Charged With Making False Child Abuse Claims Against Father, Local School Principal
December 3, 2019
A local woman and her mother are charged in a case involving the filing of a false police report making child abuse claims against a father and a local elementary school principal.
Cheryl Nadine Smith, 62, and Monica Lynn Kidd, 34, were both charged with making a false statements to law enforcement.
According to an arrest report, Smith alleged the father had beat the children with a bullwhip, and had intentionally taken the children’s seat belts off and tried to wreck his vehicle. She also alleged he had made threats to cut the children’s heads off with an axe, to lock them in a wire fence, to hit them with 2×4’s, and to cut their throats with a knife.
Smith also adamentely claimed that the father and a local elementary school principal had taken a child into a utility closet on school property and beat him with a paddle or 2×4, the report states.
ECSO documents show Smith and Kidd have filed several reports claiming child abuse by the father. Reports also note that Kidd and the father were in a custody battle.
An ECSO report states the claims made by the child are “very disturbing” and that the child “may possibly have been coached and led to believe that these incidents actually happened”.
The report states the ECSO has evidence that all of the claims made by Smith against the father and school principal are false, including the fact the principal was not on campus when the incident involving her allegedly took place.
The deputy did not observe any injuries to the child on initial contact on November 8, but he did on November 9. The child was in the care of Smith and Kidd from November 8-10, and “it is likely these injuries possibly occurred while (the child) was in the care of Kidd and Smith”, the arrest report states.
Both women were released from jail on $1,500 bond.
The Department of Children and Family Services was also notified and in reference to Kidd and Smith making false accusations, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Pictured: Cheryl Nadine Smith. Kidd’s mugshot was not released under Florida law because she is a current, former, spouse or child of a law enforcement officer.