South Alabama Fugitive In Custody After A Week On The Run
June 13, 2019
A fugitive on the run for a week in South Alabama is now in custody after a four to five hour standoff with police Thursday.
John Cobb was arrested near the Covington-Conecuh county line about 6:30 p.m. Thursday by deputies from the Covington, Conecuh and Escambia County (AL) sheriff’s offices.
Deputies said John Cobb was at a home in the Damascus area Friday night but was gone by the time they arrived. The search continued in the area until 3:30 a.m. Saturday. Sunday night, K-9s tracked Cobb until rain washed out the scent trail.
Tuesday, deputies responded to a burglary and found that someone had showered and slept in a camp house, and they found a shotgun had been stolen from another camp house. A truck Cobb allegedly stole was recovered in Conecuh County.
And Tuesday night deputies from Escambia and Conecuh counties responded to a burglary in Brooklyn where a pistol and rifle were stolen.
For the next two days, Cobb continued to elude law enforcement.
ECSO: Man Fabricated Shooting Story, His Girlfriend Charged With Battery
June 13, 2019
Authorities say a man that claimed he was shot Wednesday afternoon in Escambia County was actually injured in a domestic violence situation.
The victim was shot in the hip in the 200 block of Topaz Avenue and went to Sacred Heart Hospital for treatment. He told investigators that he was breaking up a fight between two teens when he was shot, but the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office now says he fabricated the story.
The ECSO charged the victim’s girlfriend, 30-year old Xiaomae Jenkins, with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of a marijuana in connection with the shooting incident. She was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
The Sheriff’s Office says the victim is expected to recover. His identity has not been released.
Financial Expert Recommends Sweeping Changes To Save Century
June 13, 2019
An independent financial consultant that wrote the Town of Century is “teetering on a financial cliff, and quick decisive action is needed to rescue it” sat down with the town council Wednesday evening to expound on his report. He recommended the town divest management of its utilities, hire a chief financial officer, get rid of their current accountant and just simply learn to work together.
With natural gas and water utilities losing about a million dollars in three years, Bob Inzer told the council they must take action now.
“Those are big numbers for a city of your size,” he said, adding most cities operate their utilities to make money to offset other expenses or provided additional services. He said it was the council’s responsibility to know about financial problems and take corrective actions on a timely basis, but “looking at the minutes (of council meetings), that’s not happened”.
He said the town’s charter, which has not been updated for four decades, is “antiquated” and presents a role for the mayor’s office that is more like that of a city manager. The council, he said, has been left with only limited information about the financial condition of the town from the mayor and town employees.
“The buck stops really with the council in this community,” Inzer said “You’ve got to find a way to work together.”
“Y’all are the board of directors. This is your money, this your system, this your government. Somebody’s got to be asking the questions and paying attention to what is going on,” he said.
Inzer repeatedly told the council that Century needs to hire someone for a chief financial officer type position to have direct oversight over the town’s finances.
“You hire the people that have that expertise to report to you, and you hold them accountable,” he said. “…I believe your city is not operating with the level of oversite it needs to be as evidenced by your losses.”
If the town were to hire a CFO, that could replace the town’s current accountant. “I would think he would not be needed,” Inzer remarked.
He also recommended that the town sell the town’s utilities or outsource their management.
“It was harsh, but it was an eye opener,” council member Luis Gomez said. “It felt like 95 percent was spot-on.”
To read more about Inzer’s report in depth, click here for an earlier NorthEscambia.com story. Inzer has spent nearly 50 years in municipal finance, including 30 years with the City of Tallahassee. Through the Florida League of Cities, his services and report were at no cost to the town.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Summer Fun: Brand New Playground At Barrineau Park Community Center
June 13, 2019
A brand new playground has been installed and is ready for summer fun at the Barrineau Park Community Center. The community center is located at 6055 Barrineau Park School Road [Map]. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Man Charged With Felony Battery By Strangulation
June 13, 2019
A Century man was charged after allegedly choking his ex-wife.
Lawrence Scott Hamilton, 33, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on charges of felony domestic battery by strangulation and aggravated battery. He was released on a $7,500 bond.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that she and her ex-husband of 13 years had recently gotten back together again and have been residing as a family unit. She told deputies she had spent the night at a friend’s house, but when she returned home Hamilton did not believe her and became increasingly violent.
He threw a cell phone at the victim, causing an injury before he grabbed her by the throat and choked her, according to arrest report. She told deputies Hamilton stated “I should just kill you now” the report states.
After the incident de-escalated, Hamilton transported the victim to Jay Hospital. She was transported from there to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola by ambulance for treatment.
Escambia Deputies, Escambia Fire, Pensacola PD Going On Strike, And It’s All About Doughnuts
June 13, 2019
The Pensacola Police Department (PPD), Escambia County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO) and Pensacola Fire Department (PFD) are going on strike against their beloved doughnuts Wednesday, June 26 through Friday, June 28 to support Manna. During the doughnut strike, first responders have vowed not to devour a single doughnut until 20,000 pounds of food has been donated to fight hunger in the local area, the equivalent of 26,600 meals.
Each day of the strike, members of PPD, ECSO and PFD will be at grocery locations in Escambia County from 3 to 6 p.m. to collect donations from the public. To view the grocery locations for each day of the strike, please visit www.mannahelps.org. Members of the public may also support the first responders by dropping off food donations to Manna, 3030 North E Street, Pensacola, any day during the strike, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“One in five children go to bed hungry in our community. The support of our local first responders is critical during the summer months, when children are out of school and the need for assistance increases,” said DeDe Flounlacker, executive director of Manna. “They are truly our heroes!”
Once the goal has been reached, our local first responders will return to shamelessly devouring the glazed goodness that all first responders know and love.
Manna is a local, grassroots non-profit dedicated to fighting hunger in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Their mission is to offer emergency food assistance, service the food-related needs of vulnerable populations, and engage the entire community in the fight against hunger.
ECUA Helps Prep Local 4-H Students Headed To Legislative Program
June 13, 2019
Escambia County 4-H members were busy this week preparing for a mock legislative program in Tallahassee.
Annually, 4-H high schools members from Escambia County join other 4-H members in Tallahassee to develop their debating, analyzing legislation, and public speaking skills through a mock legislature program at the state capitol. This year’s program is scheduled for June 24-28.
This civic education event allows students to write bills, act as lobbyists, pass the bills through various committees and debate the potential laws on the state house and/or senate floor as acting representatives and senators. This exercise provides the 4-H’ers an opportunity to debate issues and experience the legislative process firsthand.
In preparation for the week of mock legislature, the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) hosted the students on Tuesday, June 11, in the ECUA board room, allowing the students to practice their legislative skills in a governmental chamber environment. The training prepared the students for the upcoming 4-H Legislature and gain an understanding of board proceedings similar to legislative committees that are conducted in organizations in all forms of government and private corporate enterprise.
The local students have participated in an intensive five-part training program, which was directed by 4-H agents and adult volunteers, who contributed their knowledge of parliamentary procedure, research, debate, the art of persuasion, and formal presentation in committee and chamber sessions.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FWC Hunter Safety Courses Offered In Jay
June 13, 2019
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering free hunter safety courses in Jay.
Hunter safety courses are designed to help students become safe, responsible and knowledgeable hunters and learn about conservation.
Students who have taken the online course and wish to complete the classroom portion must bring the online-completion report with them.
All firearms, ammunition and materials are provided free of charge. Students should bring a pen or pencil and paper. An adult must accompany children younger than 16 at all times.
Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975, must pass an approved hunter safety course and have ahunting license to hunt alone (unsupervised). The FWC course satisfies hunter-safety training requirements for all other states and Canadian provinces.
Courses will be held:
June 19 (6 to 10 p.m. CDT) & June 29 (7 to 10 a.m. CDT)
Jay Community Center
5259 Booker Lane in Jay
June 26 (6 to 10 p.m. CDT) & June 29 (7 to 10 a.m. CDT)
Jay Community Center
5259 Booker Lane in Jay
Those interested in attending a course can register online and obtain information about future hunter safety classes at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety or by calling the FWC’s regional office in Panama City at 850-265-3676.
Gonzalez Utilities Lifts Boil Water Notice In Tate Road Area
June 12, 2019
Wednesday afternoon, Gonzalez Utilities lifted a boil water notice that had been in place since Friday, June 7.
The boil water notice has been in effect for the Tate Road, Archer Road, Petty Drive and Woodfield Drive area due to a water main break on Tate Road.
Two Bikers From Century Critically Injured In Highway 29 Crash
June 12, 2019
Two bikers from Century critically injured in a crash Tuesday evening on Highway 29 near McDavid.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 49-year old Susan Nichols was on a 2016 moped traveling north on Highway 29 at Whirlpool Road when she made an improper lane change about 7:07 p.m. Her moped entered the inside lane and collided with a northbound Harley Davidson motorcycle. Nichols and 45-year old James Cooko of Century were both ejected into the median.
The moped came to rest in Highway 29 just north of the crash location, while the Harley continued north for several hundred feet after Cooko was ejected.
Both bikers were airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in separate medical helicopters. The FHP said they were not wearing helmets.
For additional photos, click here.
Highway 29 northbound remained closed until about 10:30 p.m. There were no other vehicles involved in the wreck.
Any charges in the crash are pending the outcome of the FHP investigation.
The Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS, Lifeguard Ambulance, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, LifeFlight and ShandsCair responded to the wreck.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
