Holman Contraband Raid Finds 356 Weapons, 400 Pills, Other Drugs, Phones
April 22, 2019
The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) is calling an illegal contraband sweep last week at the Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore a success.
As we first reported last Thursday, ADOC along with local, county and state law enforcement conducted the joint operation . Officials conducted the day-long operation that began at 4:30 a.m. and ended late Thursday evening. ADOC Director of Investigations and Intelligence, Arnaldo Mercado said the operation was an overall success.
“At the end of the day, our ADOC team assisted by officers from our partnering law enforcement agencies found and removed considerable quantities of contraband. We inspected every inch of the facility and left no stone unturned,” Mercado said.
Officials seized large quantities illegal drugs, weapons, cellphones and various types of electronic devices. The operation recovered 356 makeshift weapons, 91 grams of meth, 98 grams of marijuana, cocaine, more than 400 assorted pills, and 16 cell phones.
Corrections Deputy Commissioner of Operations, Charles Daniels, led the operation with assistance from ADOC investigations and intelligence agents, correctional emergency response teams, and correctional K-9 drug units. Supporting law enforcement included Pardons and Paroles, AEMA, ADOT, Atmore, Bay Minette, Brewton Police Departments, and support from the Baldwin, Butler, Escambia and Monroe County Sheriff’s Departments.
Pictured top and bottom: Some of the contraband discovered during a raid early Thursday morning at Holman Prison in Atmore. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
District Runner-up Tate High Girls Tennis Headed To Regionals This Week
April 22, 2019
The Tate High School girls tennis team is headed to regionals on Tuesday.
Last week, Tate won the District 1-3A runner-up title 4-3 over Pace High. Tuesday, they will travel to Tallahassee to face Tallahassee Chiles.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Get 8-5 Easter Sunday Win
April 22, 2019
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos used a pair of home runs from Jaylin Davis and Ernie De La Trinidad and a clutch, late heads up defensive play to beat the Mobile BayBears 8-5 on Easter Sunday, improving their record to a league-best 12-5 on the season.
RHP Jorge Alcala took the ball for the Blue Wahoos for the fourth time this season and delivered his fourth win. The righty was excellent early, allowing just one hit through the first four innings. In the fifth, he finally ran into problems, allowing five runs on two home runs (Brendon Sanger and Brandon Marsh), a double, two singles, and a walk. The crooked inning was the first blemish for a Blue Wahoos starting staff that entered the evening with a 1.39 ERA.
The Blue Wahoos offense had Alcala’s back. Jordan Gore led off the bottom of the first with a double and game in to score on a single by Taylor Grzelakowski. The Wahoos added five runs in the third, stringing together a single by De La Trinidad, double by Caleb Hamilton, and home run by Davis to go up 4-0. Grzelakowski followed with a walk, and Luis Arraez doubled him to third. Jimmy Kerrigan singled home Grzelakowski and a Joe Cronin sacrifice fly plated Arraez and made it 6-0.
Two more runs crossed the plate for Pensacola in the fourth. De La Trinidad led off the inning with a no doubt homer to right. Hamilton followed with a single, and Davis doubled him to third. Grzelakowski lofted a sac fly to center to make it 8-0.
After Mobile put the five-spot on Alcala in the fifth, LHP Tyler Jay tossed 2.0 scoreless innings of relief for the Blue Wahoos, striking out four. Rehabbing LHP Gabriel Moya entered in the eighth and opened the inning with a pair of strikeouts, but then allowed a single and two walks to load the bases.
Dusten Knight entered with the bases full and two outs. He uncorked a wild pitch, but the ball took a friendly hop off the backstop to catcher Brian Navarreto. The Blue Wahoos defense caught the BayBears in a rundown, completing an unusual 2-4-3-5 putout, ending the inning with Hamilton chasing down the runner from third and making a sprawling tag at the plate for the final out.
There was less drama in the ninth, as Knight set down the side in order, striking out the final two hitters to earn his fourth save of the season. He capped off the Blue Wahoos win with a signature backflip.
Hamilton was 3-5 with a pair of doubles, an RBI, and two runs. Arraez was 2-2 with a triple, a double, a walk, and a run scored. De La Trinidad and Davis each had two hits, including their homers.
Pensacola and Mobile will continue their five-game series at Blue Wahoos Stadium tomorrow evening at 6:35 PM with Twins top pitching prospect Brusdar Graterol on the mound.
Here Are This Week’s Traffic Delay Hot Spots
April 22, 2019
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and projects in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- · U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to U.S. 90A (Nine Mile Road) – The following traffic impacts will occur from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, April 21 through Saturday, April 27.
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- Northbound U.S. 29 off and on-ramps at Nine Mile Road: will be closed from 8 p.m. Friday, April 19 to 6 a.m. Monday, April 22 to provide safe work zones for crews to construct partial segments of the future off and on-ramps. The following detour will be in place:
- Nine Mile Road to U.S. 29 Northbound – Palafox Street, 9 ½ Mile Road, to U.S. 29.
- U.S. 29 Northbound to Nine Mile Road – W. Hood Drive, Palafox Street, to Nine Mile Road.
- Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass: Alternating traffic shifts will direct all traffic onto the westbound or eastbound lanes as crews continue construction of the new northbound bridge deck. Nine Mile Road lane restrictions are Sunday through Friday.
- U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road: Drainage and paving operations continue. Drivers can expect alternating lane closures Monday through Saturday.
- Northbound U.S. 29 off and on-ramps at Nine Mile Road: will be closed from 8 p.m. Friday, April 19 to 6 a.m. Monday, April 22 to provide safe work zones for crews to construct partial segments of the future off and on-ramps. The following detour will be in place:
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement Bridge- Bridge construction will require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, April 21 through Sunday, April 28:
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- U.S. 98 east and westbound from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to just east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- State Road (S.R.) 296 (Bayou Boulevard) Turn lane Construction- The westbound, right turn lane on Bayou Boulevard, just east of Ninth Avenue, will be closed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, April 22 and Tuesday, April 23 as crews repave the turn lane.
- U.S. 90A (Nine Mile Road) Widening from S.R. 297 (Pine Forest Road) to U.S. 29- Southbound Fowler Avenue at Nine Mile Road will be closed until 5 p.m. Saturday, April 27 as crews place drainage pipes across the roadway. Traffic will be detoured as follows:
- Nine Mile Road east and westbound: Untreiner Avenue, Detroit Boulevard, Fowler Avenue.
- Northbound Fowler Avenue: Detroit Boulevard, Cove Avenue or Untreiner Avenue
- During the temporary closure, the left turn from westbound Nine Mile Road onto Untreiner Avenue will be reopened
- County Road (C.R.) 168 Bridge Replacement over Unnamed Branch- Activities associated with the bridge replacement project on County Road 168 over Unnamed Branch, Northwest of Century, are underway. The project is anticipated to be complete late 2019.
- Crary Road Bridge Replacement over Pritchett Mill Creek- Crary Road is closed between Tedder Road and Byrneville Road as crews continue to construct a bridge culvert. Motorists will be detoured via C.R. 4 and Byrneville Road. The project is anticipated to be complete summer 2019.
- Bratt Road Bridge Replacement over Canoe Creek - Bratt Road will continue to be closed near Canoe Creek. Drivers on Bratt Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to Pine Barren Road and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will be detoured east on Bratt Road. The project is anticipated to be complete summer 2019.
- Hanks Road Bridge Replacement over Breastworks Creek - Construction activities continue. The roadway will be temporarily closed during construction. Drivers on Hanks Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to C.R. 99 and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will utilize Pine Barren Road.
Santa Rosa County:
- S.R. 87 Pavement Markings Replacement- Traffic will encounter minor delays at the following locations from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Thursday until Thursday, April 25 as crews remove and replace pavement markings in the roadway. Law enforcement will be on site to direct traffic:
- From U.S. 90 to Nicholas Lake Road.
- From U.S. 98 to Vonnie Tolbert Road.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement Bridge- Bridge construction will require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, April 21 through Sunday, April 28:
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- U.S. 98 east and westbound from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to just east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- I-10 Widening from the Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/Exit 22) –Crews will be placing the final layer of asphalt on the following ramps between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.:
- Wednesday, April 24, I-10 eastbound on-ramp.
- Sunday, April 28, I-10 eastbound off-ramp.
- Monday, April 29 I-10 westbound off-ramp.
Additionally, drivers may encounter alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange, and on I-10, from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of S.R. 281, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, April 21 through Friday, April 26 as crews perform construction activities.
- U.S. 98 Utility Operations from Pala Alto Avenue in Santa Rosa County east to Woodland Avenue in Okaloosa County- Drivers will encounter intermittent and alternating lane restrictions between Pala Alto Avenue in Santa Rosa County and Woodland Avenue in Okaloosa County from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 24 and Wednesday, May 1 as Pike Electric performs routine maintenance on power lines. In addition, there will be intermittent daytime shoulder closures from Monday, April 22 until Thursday, May 2.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Woman Charged In Fatal DUI Crash
April 22, 2019
An Escambia County woman was charged with DUI after a fatal crash Sunday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 47-year old Marie Ann Simpkins failed to stop her Hyundai Sonata at a red traffic signal at Fairfield Drive and W Street about 4:30 p.m. and collided with two other vehicles. Her vehicle collided with a 2003 Ford Mustang drive by 49-year old Randy Riley. Riley was critically injured, while the crash claimed the life of his passenger, 22-year old Nelson Riley of Pensacola.
Simpkins’ vehicle also hit a Nissan Murano drive by Gladys Taylor, who suffered minor injuries.
Two passengers in Simpkins’ car, 19-year old Jobe Simpkins and a 4-year old, were also transported to the hospital.
Simpkins was charged with vehicular manslaughter, DUI manslaughter, DUI with serious bodily injury and reckless driving. She was booked into the Escambia Jail late Sunday night without bond.
Missing Man Found Safe In Cantonment Woods; Silver Alert Canceled
April 21, 2019
A missing elderly man that was the subject of a silver alert was found in safe the woods in Cantonment Sunday afternoon.
Clifford Reynolds, 83, left his home on Gulf Beach Highway Friday about 6 p.m. He was found with his white Chevrolet Avalanche by several people shortly before 5:00 Sunday afternoon down a trail off Becks Lake Road. He was rescued from the woods by the Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Reynolds was transported to an area hospital by ambulance for evaluation but appeared to be in good condition, according to Sgt. Melanie Peterson, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Worshipers Gather For Easter Sunrise Services
April 21, 2019
Worshipers gathered for sunrise services across Escambia County on Easter Sunday morning.
The services were to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, an important event to the faithful. According to the Bible:
Matthew 28:1-20
Resurrection Morning
1 After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached [the tomb]. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his robe was as white as snow. 4 The guards were so shaken from fear of him that they became like dead men. 5
But the angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. In fact, He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there.’ Listen, I have told you.”
8 So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell His disciples the news. 9 Just then Jesus met them and said, “Good morning!” They came up, took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there.”
The Soldiers Are Bribed to Lie
11 As they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 After the priests had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money 13 and told them, “Say this, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole Him while we were sleeping.’ 14 If this reaches the governor’s ears, we will deal with him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day.
The Great Commission
16 The 11 disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
from the Holman Christian Standard Bible
Pictured above and below are the Marcus Pointe Baptist Church Community Sonrise Service at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Pictured bottom is from the Molino Community Sunrise Service at Aldersgate United Methodist Church. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Mobile Home, Vehicle In Cantonment
April 21, 2019
Fire destroyed mobile home and a vehicle in Cantonment Saturday afternoon.
There were no injuries reported in the blaze on Robinson Street. Firefighters were able to save an adjacent mobile home.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Easter Bunny Visits The Molino Branch Library (With Photo Gallery)
April 21, 2019
The Easter Bunny stopped by the Molino Branch Library last week for story time and to take photos with the kids.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
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Bicyclist Hit By Car On North Palafox, Critically Injured
April 21, 2019
A bicyclist was seriously injured Saturday afternoon when he was hit by a car.
The 54-year old man entered the direct path of a Chevrolet Malibu driven by 42-year old Lakeshia Snow of Pensacola about 3:45 p.m.on North Palafox Street south of Hope Drive.
The bicyclist was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition. His name has not been released as the FHP attempted to notify his next of kin.