Senate Confirms Wetherell As North Florida District Judge
July 12, 2019
The U.S. Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s nomination of Judge T. Kent Wetherell II to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida.
Judge Wetherell has served the people of Florida for the past 20 years—first as a deputy solicitor general, then as an administrative law judge, and finally as an appellate judge on the First District Court of Appeal, where he has served with since 2009.
Pictured: appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on October 17, 2018. Image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Offers Free Sand For Storm Preparation
July 11, 2019
Escambia County is offering sand for residents living in flood-prone areas. The sand is available on a first come, first served basis.
Residents must bring their own sandbags and shovels to one of the following locations (map):
- Baars Field Athletic Park – 13001 Sorrento Road, Pensacola
- Brent Athletic Park – 4711 N. W St., Pensacola
- Don Sutton Park – 2320 Crabtree Church Road, Molino
- Equestrian Center – 7750 Mobile Highway, Pensacola
- Escambia County Road Department – 601 Highway 297-A, Pensacola
- Ferry Pass Middle School – 8355 Yancey Lane, Pensacola, sand will be on the northwest corner of school property on Parazine Street
- John R. Jones Jr. Athletic Park – 555 E. Nine Mile Road, Pensacola
- Travis M. Nelson Park - 4541 County Road 4, Bratt
Sand bags can be purchased at most local hardware or home improvement stores, typically for a low cost.
Pictured: Sand at Travis M. Nelson Park in Bratt Thursday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Allegedly Threatened To Shoot His Wife And Daughter
July 11, 2019
A Cantonment man allegedly threatened to shoot his wife and daughter during a disturbance.
Arthur Linwood Emerson, 62, was charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says they responded to a disturbance on Filley Road after receiving reports that Emerson had a gun and made the statement that he was going to shoot everyone.
When deputies arrived at the residence, they were told that Emerson had waved the gun towards his daughter and his wife. Deputies could hear arguing coming from the garage as they approached and found Emerson sitting in a chair inside. Emerson was taken into custody, and a Remington .380 was located in right front pocket.
His wife told deputies that he had been drinking and an argument ensued over the daughter not keeping a job, according to an arrest report, before he waved the gun and threatened to shoot.
Emerson told deputies that he did have the firearm in his possession, but he never pulled it out, the report states. He said he would never hurt his wife or daughter.
Emerson was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $2,000 bond.
Deputy Adopts Kitten He Rescued From Storm Drain
July 11, 2019
An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy has a new furbaby that he rescued from a storm drain.
Deputy C. Bowling was working patrol last week and stopped at a Tom Thumb near Pace and Navy Boulevards. As he returned to his vehicle, he heard crying in dark and took off to find the source. After some searching, his flashlight caught some movement in the storm drain.
His flashlight revealed two tiny eyes staring back at him. He tried to use some tuna to lure the kitten out but the kitten was so young he wasn’t interested. Deputy Bowling was finally able to get close enough to the kitten to grab it. The poor thing was dirty and flea-covered and no mother could be located.
When Deputy Bowling took the kitten to the vet to get him medical attention, the vet said had he not rescued the kitten when he did that the kitten would have not made it. Deputy Bowling and his wife adopted the little kitten and named him Rambo.
Rambo is doing well, now clean and flea-free. Rambo, as pictured below, is definitely enjoying his new home and snuggle time with his new family.
Escambia County To Provide Century Redevelopment Area Executive Director
July 11, 2019
Escambia County will provide an executive director for the the Century Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) through an interlocal agreement that is in the works.
The Century town council, acting as the CRA board, will meet Monday, July 15 at 6 p.m. at town hall, and the county will consider the interlocal agreement at their July 18 meeting.
In October 2018, the council approved a Tax Increment Financing plan for their redevelopment area, allowed the CRA to receive property tax revenues each year in excess of an established base rate. The appraised value of the property within the designated district was “frozen”this year, with that amount of tax revenue generated still designated for the town’s general fund, the county and other taxing authorities.
The redevelopment area will receive 95 percent of the property tax generated in excess of the frozen base value as property values rise. It is estimated that will amount to about $10,000 the first year for the beginning in 2020.
The CRA funds will be used to improve conditions in the 510 acres, bounded by Jefferson Avenue to the south, Jefferson Avenue to the east, East High 4 to the north and the center line of North Century Boulevard to the west. It also extends north on the east side of North Century Boulevard to include commercial properties up to, and including, the former Burger King.
The CRA received no funding to date because the base year for tax increment financing was established in 2018. The CRA will see its first redevelopment trust fund money next fiscal year.
Tax Increment Financing is a unique tool available to cities and counties for redevelopment activities. It is used to leverage public funds to promote private sector activities in the targeted redevelopment area. Property owners in the CRA will pay the same tax rate as those in the remainder of the town.
TIF revenue can be used on a “pay as you go” basis, where the annual stream of revenue is used to fund small projects, or used to pay debt service costs over the life of a project lasting 10 or more years. Historically in Florida, TIF has been effective at generating large amounts of funding for capital investments for roadway improvements, flood control programs, water and sewer and drainage infrastructure improvements, parking lots and garages, neighborhood parks, sidewalks, street and sidewalk tree plantings, signs and building construction.
After a February 2016 tornado damaged or destroyed 40 homes and businesses, the town looked to address the long-term effects on the community of a downturn in economic development. That led to the redevelopment area.
The CRA plan sets a roadmap for future development and spending to eliminate existing conditions of blight and to encourage continued private investment. The plan also provides a framework for coordinating and facilitating public and private redevelopment within the area.
Review the Century CRA plan by clicking here.
NorthEscambia.com images, click to enlarge.
Free Soccer Clinic For Kids Ages 5-12 Next Week
July 11, 2019
Pensacola Sports will hold its 8th Annual Kickstart Soccer Clinic July 16-18. It is a free, fun and safe introduction to the sport of soccer for kids ages 5-12.
All participants will receive free soccer instruction from local high school and club coaches, as well as a ball, shin guards, and other giveaways from event sponsors.
Kids ages 5-8 will check-in at 8:30 a.m. with instruction from 8:45-10:15 a.m., while kids ages 9-12 will be from 10:15 a.m.-12:00 p.m. This schedule will continue all three days, weather permitting.
Participants must wear closed-toe shoes (cleats are not mandatory) and are encouraged to bring a water bottle, hat, and sunscreen.
In addition to the instruction, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will be providing several demonstrations for the participants.
Online registration is available through the start of camp. To register, or for more information, click here. Onsite registration is also available each morning before the clinic begins. The clinic will be held at the Brent Football Field located at 4711 N. “W” St.
Search Underway For Escaped Alabama Prison Inmate
July 11, 2019
A prison inmate sentenced in Escambia County, AL, escaped from a work release center Wednesday night.
Travis Wyatt Dawson, 41, escaped from Loxley Work Release at about 9 p.m. He was last seen wearing a black t-shirt and black pants.
Dawson was sentenced to 20 years in 2013 on a possession of a controlled substance conviction in Escambia County, AL.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Alabama Department of Corrections at (800) 831-8825 or 911.
Cantonment Man Charged With Striking Fiancee, Fighting With Two Deputies
July 10, 2019
A Cantonment man is facing charges after allegedly hitting his fiancee in the face and getting into a fight with two deputies.
Michael Justin Spencer, 35, was charged with battery, felony hindering and delaying communication to a law enforcement officer and two felony counts of battery on a law enforcement officer.
His fiancee told Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies that the couple was on their way back home from hanging out with friends when he snapped and hit her in the face. He allegedly pulled her out of the vehicle, slammed her to the ground and smashed her phone before she could call law enforcement for help.
As a deputy attempted to detain Spencer, he snatched away and placed “his hands up as if he was going to fight me”, a deputy wrote in his report. “I then grabbed Michael Spencer’s body and escorted him to the ground by his shoulders.”
As the deputy attempted to grab Spencer’s right arm, he broke loose and grabbed the deputy’s duty belt near his pistol. The deputy then struck him once in the face, the report states. “When I tried to grab his wrist again, he grabbed the right side of my duty belt, at which time I delivered another strike to the right side of his face,” the deputy stated. Two deputies were the able to place him in handcuffs.
Spencer refused to stop cursing at deputies and banging around in the back of the deputy’s Tahoe, according to the report. “Michael Spencer was then escorted out of my Tahoe and onto the ground and placed in restraints,” the report states.
Deputies noted that Spencer appeared to be intoxicated and “very angry”.
Spencer was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $10,500 bond.
Driver Wraps Pickup Around Utility Pole
July 10, 2019
A driver lost control and wrapped their pickup truck around a utility pole in Cantonment Monday afternoon. The crash occurred on Highway 95A near Archer Road.
The driver was transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS. The Florida Highway Patrol investigated but has not released additional details.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
No Beach Tolls Of Any Kind During Blue Angels Weekend
July 10, 2019
Beach goers will not be asked to pay the $1 Bob Sikes toll to Pensacola Beach for the Blue Angels airshow. On Tuesday morning, the Visit Pensacola board of directors unanimously agreed to waive the toll fee after District 4 Commissioner Robert Bender approached them with the idea as a way to reduce traffic during one of the busiest weekends on Pensacola Beach. From 12 a.m. Thursday, July 11 to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 14, all lanes will be open for all drivers, with no need to stop at the toll booth. SunPass holders will also not be charged during this period for Bob Sikes Bridge usage.
Bender sponsored the $1 toll last weekend to reduce heavy traffic during the busy Fourth of July weekend. The waived fee resulted in a dramatic reduction in travel time, with the average travel time as low as 10 minutes from Gulf Breeze to Pensacola Beach.
“We want to give a big thank you to Visit Pensacola for waiving the toll fee this weekend and allowing residents and visitors alike the chance to spend less time in traffic and more time enjoying the Blue Angels Airshow weekend,” Bender said.” We’ve seen a significant decrease in travel times during the last couple of weeks when we’ve eliminated cash pay options and are working toward a long-term solution.”
Above and below: A live look at Pensacola Beach traffic at the toll plaza.