Molino Man Accused Of Capital Sexual Assault Of Young Girl, Possibly Other Victims
July 17, 2019
A 77-year old Molino man has been accused of sexually molesting a young girl over the course of several years, and prosecutors say there may be additional victims.
Daniel Durwood Edmonson, age 77 of 461 Molino Road, was charged with sexual battery on a victim under 12-years old and lewd and lascivious molestation on a victim under age 12.
“Capital sexual battery carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison if convicted,” Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said. “All of the charges are for one victim. As the investigation continues, there may be additional charges filed for that victim or other individuals.”
The female victim told investigators that Edmonson had molested her for nine years at his residence, when she was between the ages of 5 and 12. At times, he would allegedly give the child liquid Benadryl so she would fall asleep early, telling her it was for mosquito bites, before molesting her.
At least two additional victims may have been identified, according to an arrest report, including one that is now married with children of her own.
Where’s Wally? Century Council Upset Their Gas Superintendent Skips Meetings
July 17, 2019
The Century Town Council is asking “where’s Wally?” after their gas superintendent has skipped multiple council meetings despite his required attendance.
The council instructed Wally Kellett to attend two council meeting per month to keep them updated on a gas department that is losing hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. But so far this year, Kellett has missed numerous required meetings.
“If he want to be an an employee, then he needs to be at these meetings,” Council President Ann Brooks said this week after Kellett failed to attend a council meeting.
A grand jury report in March 2019 found the gas system lost over a half million dollars in just two years, customers were receiving gas without ever being billed, the prison and other commercial customers were being undercharged due to faulty meters, nearly half the gas purchased for resale was unaccounted for, and the system was plagued with billing errors.
The town has taken multiple steps to rectify some of the gas department problems — purchasing hundreds of new residential and commercial meters, including a new meter for the prison and billing system training for employees.
The council requested Kellett keep them updated on the progress of new meter installations, back billing the prison and other issues concerning the department. But with few updates, the town’s governing body has been in the dark on strides made with their natural gas department.
“Our gas superintendent won’t come to these meetings. We need this vital information,” Brooks said.
When Brooks asked Town Clerk Kim Godwin why Kellett did not attend this week’s council meeting, Godwin simply said Kellett sent a text that he would be off for the day.
Pictured: Century Gas Superintendent Wally Kellett attended a town council meeting on April 15. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Happy Ending: Flomaton Police Return Stolen Bicycle
July 17, 2019
Here’s a happy update on a story NorthEscambia.com first reported back in December.
The Flomaton Police Department on Tuesday returned a bicycle that had been stolen to a local family.
The bicycle was taken from the Martin Luther Kings Drive area in Flomaton in December. The suspect rode the bicycle to the Texaco gas station on Sidney Manning Boulevard at Highway 31 where the suspect alltedly stole a Chevrolet Tahoe. The bicycle was left behind but was held as evidence in the case until Tuesday.
The suspect was arrested in Century on December 28, and the vehicle was recovered behind a church at 8300 Alger Road in Century and returned to the owner at that time.
Pictured: Flomaton Police return a stolen bicycle on Tuesday. Pictured below: A suspect was seen riding the bicycle just before allegedly stealing a vehicle from a Flomaton gas station. Pictured bottom: The bicycle was taken into evidence. Photos for North Escambia.com, click to enlarge.
Dates Set To Shift Traffic To New Pensacola Bay Bridge
July 17, 2019
Highway 98 eastbound traffic (from Pensacola to Gulf Breeze) will be shifted to the Pensacola Bay Bridge on Sunday evening, July 28, and Highway 98 westbound traffic (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) will shift on Thursday, August 1.
From 8 p.m. Sunday, July 28 to 6 a.m. Thursday, August 1, 17th Avenue will be closed to through traffic between Gregory Street and the CSX Railroad overpass. Drivers will be detoured using Ninth Avenue and Cervantes Street (U.S. 90). Access to the visitor’s center, boat ramp, and the Pensacola Bay Fishing Pier will be maintained for local traffic via 17th Avenue.
The temporary configuration for the new bridge will provide two lanes of east and two lanes of westbound traffic, along with a center-lane reserved for emergency vehicles. A multiuse path for pedestrians and bicyclists is expected to be operational approximately two-months after the traffic shift.
With all traffic shifted to the new bridge, construction crews will demolish the current bridge, complete the new westbound structure, and reconstruct the 17th Avenue interchange. All work is currently estimated for completion in mid-2021.
The planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Greenberg Named New Principal At Pine Meadow Elementary
July 17, 2019
Elizabeth Greenberg has been named the new principal at Pine Meadow Elementary School.
Her appointment was approved Tuesday night by the Escambia County School Board. She was previously the assistant principal at McArthur Elementary School.
Pictured: New Pine Meadow Elementary School Principal Elizabeth Greenberg addresses the Escambia County School Board Tuesday night. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
IP’s Whitney Fike Selected for Leadership Florida Connect Class
July 17, 2019
Whitney Fike, communications manager at International Paper in Cantonment, has been elected as a member of Leadership Florida Connect Class 10.
Leadership Florida Connect is the premier statewide resource for educating, engaging and inspiring Florida’s top emerging leaders.
Connect selects a diverse class of 46 Florida leaders – corporate CEOs, business owners, educators, elected officials and non-profit executives to participate in an eight-month learning experience that will take them to communities across Florida. Each programming session focuses on key issues and opportunities that are specific to Florida while intertwining leadership skills, development, and the goal of becoming educated, engaged and inspired to make Florida a better place while forming lifetime connections and bonds among classmates.
Pictured: Whitney Fike, communications manager at International Paper in Cantonment. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Part Of Five State Speeding Crackdown
July 17, 2019
Florida is part of a five state speeding crackdown effort.
The Florida Highway Patrol is joining other law enforcement agencies in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina in “Operation Southern Shield”, a weeklong speed enforcement campaign.
“The Florida Highway Patrol is committed to providing highway safety with our law enforcement partners,” said Colonel Gene S. Spaulding, director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “FHP Troopers continue to remain highly visible on Florida’s state highways to enforce speeding and dangerous driving behaviors that lead to unnecessary and sometimes deadly crashes.”
According to NHTSA, in 2017, speeding was a contributing factor in 26% of all traffic fatalities nationwide, killing more than 9,000 people. One of the primary reasons that speed-related crashes have such detrimental effects is that the increased velocity and force of impact works against the usefulness of safety equipment, such as seat belts and airbags.
Missing, Endangered Teen Located Safe
July 16, 2019
UPDATE: This missing juvenile was located safe.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help to locate a missing and endangered teen female.
Kyla Shannon was last seen in the area of Pebble Brook Drive in Milton on June 28. The SRSO said it was initially believed she intentionally ran away from home, but they recently received information she may be endangered.
She may be in the company of a white female, approximately 40 years of age, with brown hair and hazel eyes. She may be in the Pensacola or Panama City area. Shannon is 16, is 5-feet 5-inches tall, weighs 190 pounds, has black hair and blue eyes. She may be wearing nose ring.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 983-1100, Detective Scott Assmann at (850) 983-1243 or Santa Rosa County Crime Stoppers at (850) 437-STOP.
One Injured In Highway 29, Highway 97 Rollover Crash
July 16, 2019
One person was injured in a rollover crash in Molino Tuesday.
The wreck happened at Highway 29 and Highway 97 when a pickup and SUV collided, causing the SUV to roll over. A second SUV sustained minor damage.
One person from a vehicle the SUV that rolled over was transported by Escambia County EMS to West Florida Hospital. The occupants of two other vehicles involved in the crash were not injured.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Former Gulf Breeze City Manager Hired To Turn Century Around
July 16, 2019
The Century Town Council voted Monday night to hire former Gulf Breeze City Manager Edwin “Buz” Eddy as a consultant to help the turn the town around.
He will be paid $35 an hour an independent contractor, not an employee, and receive a $200 mileage reimbursement. He will also bill for services provided by additional consultants not yet named.
The council has allotted up to $5,000 for his Eddy’s services. His first day will be July 29 after he completes previously planned personal travel. Eddy will answer to Mayor Henry Hawkins and the town council under an “at will” arrangement.
“Local government is my passion,” Eddy said. “I’m not doing this to make a lot of money.”
He said his first goals will be to get the town on track in the budget making process and work to improve the bottom line in the gas department, which has consistently lost money for several years.
Council members have expressed concern that the town purchased new gas meters months ago in an effort to increase billing accuracy and revenue, but very few of those meters have actually been installed.
Eddy said the meter installations should be another priority, even if the town hires a contractor to complete the work because their gas department does not have the time or resources.
Eddy made the unsolicited consultant offer after reading a report by independent financial consultant Bob Inzer, whose services were provided to the town by the Florida League of Cities following a scathing grand jury findings. Inzer repeatedly told the town council that Century needs to hire someone for a chief financial officer type position to have direct oversight over the town’s finances.
Pictured: Edwin “Buz” Eddy addresses the Century Town Council Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
