September Food Assistance Benefits Released Early For All Florida Counties
August 31, 2019
Food assistance recipients in Escambia, Santa Rosa and Florida’s other 65 counties will receive their benefits now due to Hurricane Dorian.
To assist families as they prepare for Hurricane Dorian, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) has been approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to release September food assistance benefits to all Florida counties which were included in Governor Ron DeSantis’ state of emergency order
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) customers who were scheduled to receive their benefits between September 1 and September 14 will now be able to access benefits through their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards immediately. This is an early release of regular benefits, not a distribution of additional funds.
“I applaud Governor DeSantis and President Trump for their swift action in response to the needs of Florida’s vulnerable children and families preparing for this major hurricane,” said DCF Secretary Chad Poppell. “The early release of benefits will allow families to purchase much-needed food prior to Hurricane Dorian’s landfall.”
North Escambia Area Friday Night Finals
August 31, 2019
Here are Friday night football finals from the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
Flomaton 34, Northview 26 [Details, photo gallery...]
Pine Forest 31, Tate 7 [Details, photo gallery...]
Jay 40, Cottondale 16
Washington 22, West Florida 0
Milton at Pensacola High, 7 p.m.
Escambia 32, Crestview 0.
Catholic 24, Gulf Breeze, 14
Navarre 34, Pace 0
ALABAMA
Flomaton 34, Northview 26
Escambia County (Atmore) 41, Wilcox Central 0
Satsuma 40, W.S. Neal 21
T.R. Miller 45, Choctaw County 0 (Thursday pm)
Pictured: Flomaton got past Northview 34-26 Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Florida Dept. Of Corrections Cancels All Visitations Statewide In Advance Of Dorian
August 31, 2019
The Florida Department of Corrections has canceled weekend visitations at all correctional facilities statewide through Monday, September 2, in response to Hurricane Dorian.
The cancelation includes all major institutions, work camps, work release centers and annex facilities such as the Century Correctional Institution, Century Work Camp, the Santa Rosa Correctional Institution and the Blackwater River Correctional Facility.
FDC staff throughout the state are working to prepare facilities for the potential impact of Hurricane Dorian. Staff resources will be devoted to emergency response efforts.
Department staff have begun working to make necessary preparations for inmates housed in facilities located in the path of the storm. Extra water and food supplies are being brought in to all facilities that may be impacted by the storm. Decisions to evacuate facilities will be made on a case-by-case basis and on what is in the best interest of the public, staff and inmate safety.
Offenders on community supervision will be given specific instructions from their probation officers in the event evacuations are deemed necessary or if the probation office closes during normal reporting hours.
In the event of an institution evacuation, announcements will be made upon completion. Inmate locations will be posted on the website approximately 24-hours after relocation, per standard protocol.
Ashley McArthur Guilty; Sentenced To Life For Killing Private Investigator
August 30, 2019
A former crime scene investigator has been convicted of first degree premeditated murder killing a woman for money and burying her body in Cantonment.
Ashley McArthur has been found guilty and sentenced to life in prison for shooting and killing private investigator and former police officer Taylor Wright over $34,000. Earlier this year, she was sentenced to seven years in state prison for racketeering and organized fraud in an unrelated case.
On September 14, 2017, Wright’s girlfriend reported that she was missing. The girlfriend gave a sworn statement to Pensacola Police that Wright had not been seen or heard from since September 8. Prior to her disappearance, Wright had told her girlfriend that she had placed a large amount of money in a safe deposit box that belonged to McArthur, her friend. Wright said she had tried to get her money back from McArthur several times with no success. Wright was trying to get the money back from McArthur for court proceedings related to Wright’s pending divorce.
On September 8, Wright and McArthur met so Wright could get her money. Wright and the girlfriend communicated back and forth via text until about 11:20 a.m. When the girlfriend did not hear back from Wright after numerous texts, she called McArthur. McArthur answered and said Wright could not come to the phone because she was riding a horse.
The girlfriend continued to try to communicate with Wright with no success until 7:58 p.m. when she received a text from Wright’s phone stating that she needed time to think and get her life on track.
On September 18, McArthur met with a Pensacola Police detective. She told the detective that she had picked Wright up on the morning of September 8 and they drove to various locations during the day before going to McArthur’s family property in East Milton to ride horses. She said they were there for about an hour before heading back to McArthur’s residence in the Pensacola city limits about 4:45 p.m. McArthur claimed that she went inside her house, and when came back out shortly, Wright was gone.
During the investigation, McArthur’s bank records and cell phone records were obtained. Bank records show that on August 16, McArthur deposited a cashier’s check in Wright’s name for the amount of $34,000 into McArthur’s personal checking account. The money has since been spent.
Pictured top: Taylor Wright. Pictured mugshot, inset: Ashley McArthur.
Molino Man Captured After Alabama High Speed Chase, Facing Charges In Two States
August 30, 2019
A Molino man is facing multiple drug and other charges after a high speed chase through South Alabama, and he’s also wanted in Escambia County for vehicle theft and in connection with the theft of over 100 guns and knives in Cantonment.
Bay Minette Police said 29-year old Hunter Grant Myrick fled from a traffic safety checkpoint and led officers on a high speed pursuit at speeds reaching near 100 mph through northern Baldwin County, Mobile County and into Washington County.
Mt. Vernon (AL) Police and the Washington County (AL) Sheriff’s Office used spike strips in an attempt to end the pursuit. Three of Myrick’s tires were flattened, but he continued for another five miles before driving off the shoulder of Highway 43 and fleeing into a wooded area. He was captured in the woods after a lengthy search by an Alabama Department of Corrections K-9 team.
The vehicle was reported stolen from Escambia County, FL, and it contained methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, according to Bay Minette Police.
Myrick was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, attempting to elude and multiple traffic offenses. He was booked into the Baldwin County Corrections Center without bond, and Bay Minette Police said more charges are pending as their investigation continues.
Myrick is also wanted on numerous felony warrants in Escambia County, FL, including warrants in connection with the vehicle and theft of 31 guns, 100 knives, two chainsaws and other items valued at $20,000 from Pinoak Lane in Cantonment.
On Thursday, NorthEscambia.com reported on three other arrests in the Cantonment burglary. Martin Joseph Shaughnessy, 35; Dawn Cheree Brooks, 39; and Charles Kettering, 42, were each charged with 15 counts of felony grand theft of a firearm and one count of burglary. In addition, Shaughnessy was charged with felony resisting an officer with violence, misdemeanor resisting an officer without violence and violation of probation, and Brooks was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle.
DeSantis Declares State Of Emergency For All 67 Counties
August 30, 2019
On Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency that includes all of Florida’s 67 counties, and he sent a letter to President Donald Trump formally requesting that he declare a pre-landfall disaster as Florida prepares for Hurricane Dorian. The federal request also includes all 67 counties.
Current forecasts project Hurricane Dorian will hit the East Coast of Florida as a major hurricane, possibly as strong as a Category 4.
“With Hurricane Dorian strengthening, I have sent a letter to President Donald Trump requesting that he declare a pre-landfall disaster for all of Florida’s 67 counties,” said DeSantis. “The trajectory of this storm remains uncertain, and this declaration will provide us with the necessary resources to ensure the state is fully prepared. I am confident the President will grant my request and show his full support for Florida.”
The declaration will provide important resources and assistance from the federal government, as well as free up funding sources for emergency protective measures.
Pictured: Gov Ron DeSantis receives a Hurricane Dorian briefing Thursday at the National Hurricane Center. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECSO Seizes $2.2 Million Of Powdered Cocaine, Largest Seizure In Agency History
August 30, 2019
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has made what is believed to be the largest powdered cocaine seizure in the agency’s history.
The 22 kilos of powder cocaine has a street value estimated at $2.2 million.
“This seizure was unique in many ways,” Sheriff David Morgan said during a Thursday afternoon press conference, “but unfortunately there’s not going to be a tremendous amount of information that can be released.”
“It was destined for a warehouse that did not exist,” Chief Deputy Chip Simmons said. The ECSO has not said where they drugs were found in Escambia County.
Simmons said an attempt was made to conceal the cocaine from detection in spray foam insulation, but it was discovered by an ECSO K-9 during an interdiction effort.
“Drugs like this are coming through Escambia County,: Simmons said. “We are going to keep finding the drugs. You have a dedicated group of nactorics officers and K-9s.”
Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate JV Beats Pine Forest With OT Field Goal From Conner Wright
August 30, 2019
The junior varsity Tate Aggies beat Pine Forest 10-7 Thursday with an overtime field goal by Conner Wright to seal the win. The JV Aggies are off next week, and will be on the road September 12 against the Escambia Gator JV. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Involved In Fatal I-10 Crash
August 30, 2019
A Molino man was uninjured in a crash that killed a Florida man Wednesday in Washington County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 56-year old Eddie Lamar Hicks of Molino was westbound on I-10 just east of the Caryville exit in Washington County. His 2007 Peterbilt collided with a Toyota Tacoma that had been involved in a previous crash.
The driver of a Tacoma, 70-year old Michael Lee Wright of West Melbourne, FL, was killed. Hicks was not injured.
Locals Strip Hurricane Supplies From Store Shelves
August 30, 2019
While any local impacts from Hurricane Dorian are not yet known, locals have headed to the store looking for supplies.
Several local stores were nearly out of hurricane supplies like bottled water on Thursday afternoon.
Escambia County officials are encouraging residents to be prepared for Dorian — or any story — with an emergency supply kit that will last at least three days. It should contain three days of clothes, nonperishable food, pet food, water and a battery operated radio and flashlight with extra batteries. Also include a first-aid kit with items such as gloves, adhesive bandages and prescription medications. Find a printable disaster shopping list here.
Pictured: The water aisle at the Walmart on Pensacola Boulevard in Ensley. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
