Tate Wins Aggie Classic Championship (With Photo Gallery)
March 22, 2019
The Tate Aggies won the their third Aggie Classic championship in four years Thursday night with a 5-3 victory over Choctaw, OK.
The Aggies were down by three in the top of the of the fifth when Raymond Lafleur homered on a 3-1 count.
Brantley Culbertson earned the win for the Aggies. He allowed four hits and zero runs over four and a third innings while striking out three. Darrien McDowell started on the mound for Tate, allowing five hits and three runs over two and two-thirds innings while striking out two.
The Aggies recorded no errors.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: The Tate Aggies won the Aggie Classic championship Thursday night. Pictured below: Raymond Lafleur rounds the bases after a go-ahead homer in the fifth. Photos by Crystal Tolbert for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Accused Of Forcing His Way Into Home Of Ex-wife
March 21, 2019
A Molino man was arrested by Pensacola Police after allegedly forcing his way into the home of his ex-wife and pushing her.
Fletcher Allan McCullough, 50, was charged with felony burglary with assault or battery and misdemeanor batter after the incident.
The victim told police that she had been separated from McCullough for about 2.5 years, and he was not allowed at her residence. She stated he appeared at her front door, and she tried to hold the door closed with her body. She said Fletcher forced his way through the front door, pushing her out of the way, according to an arrest report.
The victim said she told Fletcher numerous times that he was not allowed in the home, but Fletcher kept saying “I know he’s in there,” the report states. A man inside the home told officers he did not see the incident but heard everything.
During a later interview, according to the report, Fletcher state he was attempted to mend his relationship with his ex-wife but believed she was involved with the man that was inside the home.
Fletcher remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday night without bond.
Bright Idea: New Lighted Stop Signs Installed In Northern Santa Rosa County
March 21, 2019
There’s something new about several stop signs in northern Santa Rosa County, and local residents say it’s a bright idea.
The Florida Department of Transportation has provided four radar-activated, LED illuminated, solar powered stop signs that were installed by Santa Rosa County Public Works at two intersections — Highway 178 and Highway 89 south of Jay, and Munson Highway and Highway 4 in Munson.
The concept is simple. As vehicles approach, the LED lights on the signs illuminate to increase intersection awareness and safety.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Beats Noble Oklahoma To Advance To Aggie Classic Championship Game
March 21, 2019
The Tate Aggies have advanced to the championship game of the 2019 Aggie Classic. Tate will host top seed Choctaw, OK, at 7 p.m.
The Aggies defeated Noble, OK, 3-1 Wednesday night under a rising outfield supermoon (pictured left).
Cole Fryman earned the win for Tate in six innings, allowing no runs and two hits while striking out eight and walking one. Easton Sidner threw one inning in relief, recording the last three outs to earn the save.
Darrien McDowell went 2-3 with a run, while Mason Land was 2-4 with a RBI. Also for Tate: Hunter McClean 1-3, R; Raymond Lafleur 1-3, RBI; Chase Tolbert 1-4, RBI; Michael Potts R.
Pictured: The Tate Aggies defeated Noble, OK, Wednesday night. Photos by Crystal Tolbert for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Board Of Adjustment Decision Postponed On New Molino Road Cell Phone Tower
March 21, 2019
Wednesday, the Escambia County Board of Adjustment postponed action until next month on a conditional use request for a cell phone tower in the 4300 block of Molino Road.
The delay was at the request of Integrisite as they seek approval for a tower to be located on just less than an acre subsection of a 12.61 acre lot.
Most properties within the 500-foot buffer of the property are used as single-family residences or agricultural land. One single family dwelling is located on the parcel and is located less than 500 feet from the tower.
County staff found the parcel does not meet 100-foot width requirement of the rural residential zoning designation and only has 60 feet of frontage on Molino Road.
If the Board of Adjustment should approve the plan at their next meeting on April 17, Integrisite would be required to submit a formal application to the Escambia County Development Review Committee.
Pictured: The area of the 4300 block of Molino Road. NorthEscambia.com graphic.
T.C. Venom’s Home Opener Is Saturday Night In Century
March 21, 2019
The new T.C. Venom minor league football team will open home play this Saturday night in Century against the Birmingham Steel City Raptors.
The game will kickoff at 7 p.m. at Anthony Pleasant Park. Admission is $10 with kids 12 and under admitted free.
The Venom will play three additional homes games in Century as the newest team in the Amateur to Professional Development Football League, the AFDFL:
Sat Mar 30 — Crescent City Kings — Century, 7 p.m.
Sat Apr 6 — Greater Pensacola Jets — Century, 7 p.m.
Sat May 11 — Florida Phoenix — Century, TBD
The APDFL is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to the promotion and advancement of adult minor league football teams throughout the Southeast, according to their website. Players are between the ages of 18 and 30 looking to obtain a second chance of reaching their college or professional football dreams. The APDFL provides these athletes a place to improve their football skills and a platform to showcase their talents by attracting scouts from the collegiate and professional levels.
Escambia County Property, Tangible Taxes Due
March 21, 2019
Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford is reminding local residents that 2018 unpaid real estate and tangible property taxes become delinquent April 1. Penalties of three percent for real estate taxes and one and one-half percent for tangible taxes will be assessed. Over $24.8 million remains unpaid, representing approximately nine percent of the tax roll. To avoid the penalty, payment must be made by March 31.
Payment options include:
- online by midnight CDT, March 31, at EscambiaTaxCollector.com;
- mailed with a March postmark;
- left by midnight CDT, March 31 in a 24-hour drop box available at all locations; or
- by phone at (850) 438-6500, ext. 3252 by close of business March 29.
Since the deadline falls during the weekend, when all offices are closed, customers can make their payment in person without penalty on current 2018 taxes at any tax collector office on Monday, April 1.
Taxpayers are encouraged to visit the tax collector’s virtual office at EscambiaTaxCollector.com to pay online 24 hours a day. Online services allow customers to pay their taxes, search records, print receipts, renew vehicle and vessel registrations and many other services. Customers who decide to visit one of four offices can join the line online at EscambiaTaxCollector.com and manage their time their way. Citizens select an office location and type of service, receive a message with approximate service time and then continue their regular activities until the service time approaches.
Customers can visit the payment center at EscambiaTaxCollector.com to check the status of property taxes, pay online or print a receipt. Taxpayers are encouraged to contact the tax collector’s office by email ectc@EscambiaTaxCollector.com or by phone with any questions.
Pictured: The Escambia County Tax Collector office in Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Panhandle Equine Rescue Awarded $3K To Buy Hay For Rescue Horses
March 21, 2019
Panhandle Equine Rescue in Cantonment recently received a $3,000 grant to purchase hay for rescue horses.
The grant was awarded by 400 Paws, a group with a mission to raise funds for qualified non-profit animal organizations; to educate the community regarding animal welfare; and to emphasize the need for financial assistance within local animal shelters and rescue groups.
The only horse rescue in Escambia County, Panhandle Equine Rescue was founded by a small group of concerned citizens with a mission to rescue, rehabilitate and provide adoption services for abused, neglected and abandoned equines.
Additional $3,000 grants were awarded to the Northwest Florida Great Dane Rescue and Rescued Rangers.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment House Fire Leaves Five Without A Home
March 20, 2019
Five people, including three children, were left without a home after a house fire Wednesday morning in Cantonment.
Flames were shooting from the windows of the brick home when firefighters arrived at the corner of Booker and Callaway streets just after 9 a.m.
There were no injuries reported, but the home suffered major damage. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The American Red Cross is assisting the five people displaced from the home.
This was the second house fire on Booker Street in three days. On Monday, a double wide mobile home in the 900 block of Booker Street was heavily damaged by fire. There was not immediately any known connection between the two fires.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Mayor, Councilman Seek To Control Information Flow From Century
March 20, 2019
For the second time, Century’s mayor and a council member are seeking to control the flow of information from the town.
“Anything concerning me and Seat 2…I want a heads up…if the council is on television, on in a newspaper, or on William’s NorthEscambia saying that they are speaking for the council, I want to be involved in that. I want my opinion and my vote to be ask for,” council member Luis Gomez told his fellow council members Monday night.
“If you are going to speak for me in front of a camera or in a newspaper or in a meeting in this (the council) room, I want to have some say so. I don’t want anybody making no decisions for me or making no kind of comments or no decisions.”
“The newsman get on there and say we spoke with the mayor of Century and town leaders. They spoke to you (Mayor Henry Hawkins) and they spoke to her (council president Ann Brooks). I’m a town leader. Ain’t nobody spoke to me…I’m a leader too, and if you ain’t spoke to me, don’t say you spoke to town leaders,” Gomez also said.
“One of the things I asked the council, we need a PIO (public information officer) officer. That never went anywhere. We need somebody authorized to speak to represent the town,” Hawkins said. Last year, he told the council he should speak for the town and expressed displeasure over comments made by Brooks to WEAR 3 .
“We’ve had a lot of bad press in the past starting with the folks that got beat up for violating the Sunshine Law that they was never briefed on,” Hawkins added.
Gomez also said that if a single council member is going to speak for the council in a meeting, he wants to choose that person. “I don’t want it to be said the council recommended this, because if I didn’t say it out of my mouth that yeah that’s what I recommended, that’s not the council’s approval.”
“If we are going to have a meeting that is not going to include the entire council, and I know that there is a possibility of shining a bad light on Century or getting the council in some of a danger, I think we need to bring it to this table,” Gomez said. “I don’t want anybody representing me without my approval.
Gomez made a motion that if his name is going to be used in a council decision that he have a vote on the subject matter. Brooks, who conducts the meetings as council president, never asked for a second or vote on the motion.
Gomez, Brooks and council member Sandra McMurray Jackson were recently fined by a judge for a noncriminal violation of Florida’ Sunshine Law. Last summer, three council members attended at least some portion of a closed-door meeting with CPA Robert Hudson, Town Clerk Kim Godwin and the town’s auditors. The meeting was not advertised as a public meeting, which forbid more than one council member from attending.
“I should be able to come in this room, and if I shouldn’t be able to come into this room, I should be notified why I can’t come in this room. I should be notified prior to me coming in. I could be down here paying my gas bill and come in here to see if I left my cap in here. I paid $250 for that,” Gomez said, referring to his $250 Sunshine Law violation fine, not the value of the cap. “We could be having a budget meeting that I knew nothing about.”
“If I am going to go up in flames for making a bad decision on the budget, I need to be sitting in the room for the budget meeting,” he said.
“The meeting you are speaking about is a workshop that each one of us individually have attended in the past with the auditor,” Brooks said.
“No, that’s a lie,” Gomez said.
Gomez incorrectly claimed that members of a citizen advisory board held a meeting 30 minutes early, “and when the newspapers got there they violated the Sunshine because they started early.”
“And they went to jail and had to pay fines…and they got arrested because of a time,” Gomez also claimed falsely.
Four appointed members of the volunteer advisory task force received deferred prosecution for violating the Sunshine Law by holding a meeting two hours in advance of a publicly advertised time. The individuals were never arrested, never faced any criminal charges and never went to jail as claimed by Gomez.
Disclosure: WEAR 3 and NorthEscambia.com are media partners, often sharing news, photos and videos. WEAR 3 and NorthEscambia.com do not share ownership.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.