Ombudsman Delivers Written Report On Escambia Public Safety Department
May 16, 2019
An ombudsman has delivered a final written report into Escambia County Public Safety, and it essentially mirrored a verbal presentation she gave to the county commission last week.
Janice Kilgore began work on the report on April 17 and interviewed over 50 people including public safety employees, county administration and volunteer fire chiefs.
Her findings dealt mostly with issues like funding and staffing and did not include the state investigation into possible wrongdoings with Escambia EMS since that inquiry has not concluded. As we previously reported, the report did indicate there is an EMS coverage issue in North Escambia [read earlier story...].
Kilgore said 8 to 10-year old policies and a lack of funding are major talking points that need to be addressed.
Her report said the county needs to improve coordination between fire and EMS divisions, use the workforce more effectively and improve training. There has been no medical training since October 2018, a public safety fire training facility is needed and training needs to be more skills based and hands on.
Kilgore’s report also found a multi-year vehicle replacement program is needed, EMS coverage in North Escambia needs to be improved and the department’s public image needs addressing.
Commissioners said many of the issues will need to be addressed during the preparation of the county’s next budget.
Interim County Administrator Amy Lovoy appointed Kilgore as an ombudsman after Weaver’s resignation. She worked for the county for 36 years, moving from a clerk for the Santa Rosa Island Authority to county Emergency Preparedness head. She was named Public Safety director when the position was created in 1997.
To read the complete 37-page report, click here.
Hurricane And School Supplies Tax Holidays Signed Into Law
May 16, 2019
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed off on a sales tax holidays for hurricane and back to school supplies.
The Hurricane Supplies Sale Tax Holiday will begin on May 31 and continue through June 6 on the following items:
- Flashlights, torches and other self-powered portable light sources selling for under $20
- Portable radios, two-way radios, or weather-band radios selling for $50 or less
- Tarps or other waterproof sheeting, and tie-down kits for $50 or less
- Gas or diesel fuel tanks for $25 or less
- Batteries selling for $30 or less
- Food coolers (nonelectric) for $30 or less
- Power generators selling for $750 or less
Hurricane Season begins June 1 and runs through November 30.
The Back-to-School sales tax holiday will begin August 2 and continue through August 6. It exempts sales taxes from clothes, bags, shoes selling for $60 or less, school supplies for $15 or less, and personal computer and accessories sold for $1,000 or less.
Jim Allen Elementary Names Students Of The Month
May 16, 2019
Jim Allen Elementary School has named Students of the Month for April. They are Emily Dunlap (pictured left) and Peyton Lewis. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Top Achievers Honored During Annual Northview FFA Banquet
May 16, 2019
The Northview High School FFA recently held their annual banquet.
The night included many awards for Northview FFA members and supporters. The Northview High School FFA has been continuously honored as a top chapter in Florida and the nation.
The Walnut Hill Fire Department, Tate FFA Chapter and the Northview High School NJROTC were inducted as honor members of the Northview FFA chapter.
The The Jamie Hall Memorial Scholarship, Glynn Key Memorial Scholarship and Tommy Weaver Memorial FFA Alumni Scholarship were presented to Olivia Porter (pictured).
Other awards and honors presented included:
Creed Speaking Career Development Event- Sarah Sconiers
Prepared Public Speaking Career Development Event – Amber Gilman
Safe Tractor Operations Speaking Career Development Event – Stewart Woodfin
The Livestock Evaluation and Selection Career Development Event – Raeleigh Woodfin, Amber Gilman, Stewart Woodfin, and Kelli Merchant
Horse Evaluation Career Development Event – Olivia Porter, Autumn Williams, Destiny Cleckler, Brooke Doolittle, and Leia Grantham, Sarah Sconiers, Rachael Sanders, and Emily Stabler
Vegetable Evaluation Career Development Event – Raeleigh Woodfin, Olivia Porter, Destiny Cleckler, and Amber Gilman
Beef Production and Showmanship Career Development Event – Tyler Simmons and Bryce Korinchak
Forestry Career Development Event – Stewart Woodfin, Jonathan Gibbs, and Brandon Dean
Blue and Gold Awards- Jonathan Gibbs, Michael Roloph, Lacie Carter, and Bryce Korinchak
High Point Awards- Raeleigh Woodfin and Stewart Woodfin
Outstanding 9th Grader and Greenhand member: Page Gibbs
Outstanding 10th Grader: Amber Gilman
Outstanding 11th Graders: Raeleigh Woodfin and Stewart Woodfin
Outstanding 12th Grader: Olivia Porter
The incoming Northview FFA Chapter 2019-2020 Officer Team was also recognized:
President- Raeleigh Woodfin
Vice President- Amber Gilman
Secretary- Lacie Carter
Treasurer- Meredith McGhee
Reporter- Paige Gibbs
Sentinel- Stewart Woodfin
Historian- Rachel Sanders
Parliamentarian- Sarah Sconiers
Chaplain- Leah McCoy
Photographer- Samantha Sasser
Public Relations- Julie Keith
Chairman of Recruitment- Jamie Gruenwald
Honorary Student Advisor- Tyler Simmons
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
3-Year Old Girl Struck And Killed By Family Member’s Pickup
May 16, 2019
A 3-year old was struck and killed by a pickup driven by a family member Wednesday afternoon in Escambia County.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 35-year old Steven Newhouse of Pensacola struck 3-year old Madaline Newhouse in the driveway of a home on Brenda Avenue in Myrtle Grove. The FHP report states the young girl walked in front of the Dodge Ram 1500 and Steven Newhouse was unable to see her.
Madaline was pronounced deceased at the scene by Escambia County Medical Director Dr. Rayme Elder at 2:07 p.m.
Any charges are pending the outcome of the FHP investigation.
Wahoos Rally, Win Eighth Straight Series
May 16, 2019
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos resiliency shined again Wednesday, thus continuing their series unbeaten streak in a significant way.
Trailing 3-0 early in a matinee, road finale against the Chattanooga Lookouts, turned the game with a big inning, then got a clutch closer performance from Sam Clay to hold on for a wild, 7-6 victory in the series deciding game at AT&T Field in Chattanooga, Tenn.
In winning a pair of back-to-back road series’ against Mississippi and Chattanooga, the Blue Wahoos (26-14) headed home following the early game with a 6.5-game lead in first place of the Southern League’s South Division. There are 30 games left in the first half, divisional playoff chase.
What’s more, the Blue Wahoos won the final two games of the series after their top hitter, second baseman Luis Arraerz, whose .342 average was third best in all Double-A, was elevated Tuesday to Triple-A Rochester.
New faces, new game stars keep emerging with the Blue Wahoos.
Wednesday, Caleb Hamilton bashed a 2-run homer to highlight a 5-run rally in the fourth inning, which changed the game. The Lookouts (21-17) had taken a 3-0 lead off Rodney Dobnak, who grinded into the sixth to earn his second win in three Double-A starts for the former Independent League pitcher.
Hamilton, who played third base Wednesday, but also has shared a catcher’s role, went 2-for-4 in the game. Alex Kirilloff went 1-for-5, but his one hit was the eventual game-winner, a two-run single in the eighth inning to provide a 7-4 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Lookouts got a pair of runs off Blue Wahoos top closer Ryan Mason. The Lookouts had the tying run on second, following Chris Okey’s, two-out, RBI double to cut the lead to 7-6.
Mason got Alfredro Rodriguez to fly out to Kirilloff in right field to end the threat.
In the ninth inning, Clay earned his third save by retiring the first two hitters, former Blue Wahoos’ T.J. Friedl and Jose Siri, then giving up a single before getting Brantley Bell to ground out and end the game.
The series matched two Southern League teams that switched affiliations after last season. It also included former Blue Wahoos manager Pat Kelly, who took Pensacola to three consecutive post-season appearances as a Cincinnati Reds affiliate and the 2017 SL co-championship shared with the Lookouts, then the Minnesota Twins affiliate.
Earlier in the game, the Lookouts were in solid position to get the series win. They got a two-run homer in the second from Mitch Nay, then another run in the third off a fielding error.
But the Blue Wahoos erupted in the fourth. Taylor Grzelakowski coaxed a one-out walk. Hamilton followed with his homer over the center field wall. Catcher Ben Rortvedt, the Blue Wahoos newest player, elevated from Advanced-A Fort Myers, singled and then scored on Mark Contreras’ two-out double.
Joe Cronin followed with an RBI double. Travis Blankenhorn then singled home Cronin to make it a 5-3 lead. It was 5-4 in the eighth when Kirilloff’s two-run single became decisive.
The Blue Wahoos then took a near 400-mile bus ride back to Pensacola and will begin a five-game homestand Thursday against the Mobile BayBears.
Firefighters Battle Vehicle Fire On Kingsfield Road
May 15, 2019
Firefighters battled a vehicle fire Wednesday morning on East Kingsfield Road near Portobella Place. There were no injuries reported. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour and submitted by Kennya Slaughter, click to enlarge
Pickup Truck Collides With Gasoline Tanker In Cantonment
May 15, 2019
There were no injuries when a pickup truck collided with a gasoline tanker truck Wednesday morning in Cantonment.
The crash happened on Highway 29 near Woodbury Circle. There was no leak and no danger posed by the tank following the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Barry Discusses EMS And Fire Funding, Roads And Traffic During Cantonment Town Hall
May 15, 2019
Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry held a town hall meeting Tuesday in Cantonment.
Most of the comments and questions from the audience deal with roads, bridges and traffic, but Barry did discuss Escambia Fire Rescue and EMS funding.
He said that during the six budgets he has worked on during his time as a commissioner, funding for fire, EMS and their number of employees has increased by about two-thirds.
“I’m not going to say it wasn’t needed, but I think the argument is a little bit disingenuous when it’s made out that we haven’t put resources there. That is a considerable increase in those two departments,” Barry said.
“There’s going to be more resources just because of the discussion that’s gone on in the last couple of months…I don’t know that putting more money and more and more personnel makes either department more efficient,” he said.
“There are resources to be successful, but I haven’t really heard a good plan for how just putting more money or more people is going to make it work better,” Barry added.
Century Prison Visitors Facing Charges For Contraband Including Phones, Drugs
May 15, 2019
One of two women that allegedly tried to smuggle contraband into the prison in Century has been arrested.
On September 3, 2018, a K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics in a Chevrolet Impala in the parking lot of the Century Correctional Institution. Two women, identified as Rukeiya Heygood and Rikeishma Noack, were inside the vehicle with two children.
CCI staff reported finding a cellphone, eight chargers and nine SIM cards inside the vehicle.
A metal detector alerted to electronic contraband on the women.. The Florida Department of Corrections said further investigation revealed both visitors to also be in possession of additional contraband on their person including eight cell phones, nine SIM cards, eight chargers and marijuana. The contraband was allegedly hidden in rubber balloons inside the body cavities of the women.
The contraband was seized, and arrest warrants were later prepared.
Heywood was booked into the Escambia County Jail this week on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, smuggling a cellular phone into a prison and smuggling a controlled substance into a prison. Her bond was set at $35,500.
The Department of Children and Families was also contacted due to there being children in the vehicle.
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