Friday Night Crash On Nine Mile Road
February 2, 2019
Traffic was slowed Friday night after a crash on East Nine Mile Road at Chisolm Road. Further details have not been released by the Florida Highway Patrol. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Alanna Rohling Named Escambia District Teacher Of The Year, Other Top Educators Honored
February 2, 2019
Alanna Rohling, a kindergarten teacher at Lincoln Park Elementary School, was named the Escambia County School District Teacher of the Year Friday night at the annual Golden Apple Awards.
Rohling is now in the running for the Florida Teacher of the Year.
In addition to Rohling the five finalists for the award included Austin Courson, Tate High School; Danielle Fryman, Bown Barge Middle School; Caleb Lovely, Warrington Middle School School; and Erica Minchew, Kingsfield Elementary School.
A teacher from each school in the district was selected by their peers to represent ingenuity, dedication, compassion, organization, other traits shared by teachers in their schools. They teach various subject areas and also teach life skills and employability skills such as teamwork, time management, and social responsibility.
The Golden Apple Awards honored all Teachers of the Year for each school in the district.
Those teachers were:
Jim Allen Elementary — JoLynn Jackson
Alternative Education — Maria Alessandra Cardoso
Bailey Middle — Laura Baney
Bellview Elementary — Jennifer Cowan
Bellview Middle — Ena Floyd-Johnson
Beulah Academy of Science — Wendy Perkins
Beulah Elementary — Allison Rhodes
Beulah Middle — Krysta Wilcox
Blue Angels Elementary — Lisa Marie Jones
Bratt Elementary — Heather Gilman
Brentwood Elementary — Cassandra James
Brown-Barge Middle — Danielle Fryman
Byrneville Elementary — Deana Weaver
Camelot Academy — Kristian Bivins
Hellen Caro Elementary — Amanda Long
N. B. Cook Elementary — Nora Bleam
Cordova Park Elementary — Cheryl Killam
Ensley Elementary — Regina Smolensky
Escambia High — Anne Krothe
Escambia Westgate — Kelly Simmons
Exceptional Student Education — Cathy Williams
Ferry Pass Elementary — Nekeisha Stewart
Ferry Pass Middle — Kirby Bridges
Global Learning Academy — Shenika Johnson
Reinhardt Holm Elementary — Lisa Berkley Jones
Kingsfield Elementary — Erica Minchew
Lakeview School — Ronald Williams
Lincoln Park Elementary — Alanna Rohling
R. C. Lipscomb Elementary — Betsy Eggart
Longleaf Elementary — Sallie Phillips
L.D. McArthur Elementary — Nancy Fiedor
McMillan Pre-K Center Lisa Barrs
Molino Park Elementary — Helen Cristofoletti
Montclair Elementary — Timberly Aymond
Myrtle Grove Elementary — Meaghan Caffelle
Navy Point Elementary — Kanisha White
Northview High — Jeffrey Simpkins
Oakcrest Elementary — Michelle Ware
Pensacola High — Olivia Calloway
Pine Forest High — Shannon Gehrke
Pine Meadow Elementary — Susan Chapman
Pleasant Grove Elementary — Heather Macdonald
Ransom Middle — Lauren Samoszenko
Scenic Heights Elementary — Megan Etheredge
O. J. Semmes Elementary — Felicia Watts
Sherwood Elementary — Ingrid Gamblin
George Stone Technical College Glen Arne
A. K. Suter Elementary — Ashley Seitz
J. M. Tate High — Austin Courson
Title 1 — Joe Guidice
Ernest Ward Middle — Robert Cassevah
Warrington Elementary — Dianne Singletary
Warrington Middle — Caleb Lovely
Booker T. Washington High — Eric Collins
C. A. Weis Elementary — Jamie Okrochkov
West Florida High — Katie Brand
West Pensacola Elementary — Erica Zink
J. H. Workman Middle — Emma Young
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge
Phifer Leads Century Heat In Victory Over Warriors
February 2, 2019
The Century Heat defeated the Warriors 16-15 Friday night in youth basketball (ages 8-10) at Poarch.
Jakel Phifer scored 14 points to lead the Heat.
With the Heat down 14-15 and with 39 seconds remaining, Phifer made a steal and scored putting the Heat up for good.
Pictured: The Century Heat’s Jakel Phifer. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Spring Ball Registration At NWE, Century And Cantonment
February 2, 2019
Northwest Escambia
Registration concluded Saturday.
Cantonment Ballpark
Registration at the Cantonment Ballpark is Saturday, February 9 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Registration is $80 and includes the team uniform jersey. For more information, email cantonmentsports@gmail.com. First practice will be Tuesday, February 19, and Opening Day is set for Saturday, March 30.
For a registration form, click here.
Century Little League
Century Little League registration for 2019 is happening now.
Registration fees are as follows:
- Now until February 14: First Child $60; $55 each additional
- February 15 to March 2: First Child $70; $65 each additional
Register online here, or in person registration dates will be held on the following Saturdays from 9 a.m. until noon at the Showalter Park press box:
- February 16
- March 2
All fees are due at the time of registration. Credit and debit cards are accepted online. In person registration is cash or check only.
Molino Ballpark
Registration has closed.
FDLE: Escambia Woman Lied About Officer Involved Shooting Of Her Son
February 2, 2019
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has charged Sheekina Monique Williams, 36, of Pensacola with providing false information to law enforcement and perjury during an officer use of force investigation.
“In public integrity investigations such as this, FDLE’s role is to determine the facts so prosecutors can make appropriate charging decisions,” said FDLE Pensacola Special Agent in Charge Jack Massey. “For this to happen, it is imperative for people to provide truthful information.”
In an interview with FDLE agents, Williams claimed to witness a November officer involved shooting where the suspect was shot in the arm. FDLE was investigating the case at the request of Escambia County Sheriff’s Office after the suspect was shot while trying to run over deputies with his vehicle. Those deputies were recently cleared by the state attorney’s office of criminal wrongdoing.
Williams told officers she was standing on a front porch and saw the shooting. However video obtained from the scene shows Williams was not where she claimed to be. Agents believe Williams did not witness the incident. She is the mother of the suspect.
Williams was arrested Friday and booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $1,500.
The State Attorney’s Office announced January 23 that the shooting was justified.
DeSantis Pitches $91.3 Billion Spending Plan
February 2, 2019
In what would be the largest budget in state history, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday released a proposed $91.3 billion spending plan that would increase school funding, pump money into water-quality projects and trim taxes.
DeSantis’ proposal is a starting point for lawmakers, who will negotiate a 2019-2020 budget during the legislative session that starts March 5. The Legislature typically makes significant changes to spending proposals offered by governors.
But DeSantis, who took office Jan. 8, touted his “bold vision for a brighter future budget.” He touted issues such as cutting taxes, with his proposal including a move to hold down property taxes that otherwise would go to schools and offering popular sales-tax “holidays.”
“I said throughout the campaign, Florida being a low tax state, I think, has been integral to our success and our growth,” DeSantis said during a news conference in the Capitol. “We want people who are working hard here to be able to live without being taxed excessively, and then we want to send a signal to the rest of the country that Florida is a good place to invest and move to because you’re going to be treated fairly.”
The budget proposal includes:
— $21.7 billion for the main public-school funding formula, known as the Florida Education Finance Program, with an increase of $224 in per-student funding.
— No tuition or fee increases for students at state universities and state colleges and $582.8 million for the Bright Futures scholarship program.
— $625 million for Everglades restoration and water-quality efforts to address issues such as red tide and toxic algae.
— $50 million for beach-restoration projects and $100 million for the Florida Forever land-conservation program.
— $85 million to continue the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, an economic-development program, and $76 million for the Visit Florida tourism-marketing agency.
— Making permanent a $98 million cut in the Medicaid program through eliminating a longstanding policy about paying health-care bills that accumulate while people prepare to apply for coverage — a concept known as “retroactivity.”
— Elimination of the Agency for State Technology, with its responsibilities shifted to the Department of Management Services.
— No across-the-board pay raises for state employees.
— $335 million in tax savings, with $289.7 million in the “required local effort,” which are property taxes that go to schools, and $45.3 million in sales-tax holidays for back-to-school shoppers and purchases of disaster-preparedness supplies.
The proposed budget, which outlines potential spending for the fiscal year that starts July 1, would be an increase from the current year’s $89.3 billion budget.
DeSantis said the state is projected to have an additional $1 billion in general-revenue taxes, which are a key source of money for schools, health programs and prisons. Also, the proposed budget is larger because it includes federal and state money for responding to disasters such as Hurricane Michael and Hurricane Irma.
“I think that, all told, this is not a budget that is spending money unnecessarily,” DeSantis said.
House and Senate committees have scheduled a series of meetings next week to receive presentations on DeSantis’ proposal and to begin drilling into the details. It likely will not be clear until late April how much of DeSantis’ proposals will wind up in the final spending plan.
Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, issued a statement Friday saying he appreciated DeSantis’ recommendations, which he indicated “reflect many of our shared priorities.” Also, Galvano said senators are looking forward to receiving a new estimate of general-revenue taxes. That revised estimate, which state analysts are expected to issue later this month, could affect the amount of money lawmakers will have available when they negotiate the budget.
“Developing a comprehensive budget recommendation within the limited time following the election was certainly not an easy task, and I commend the governor and his staff for completing this critical component of our state budget process,” Galvano said.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
ECSO: Attempted Kidnapping Of 14-Year Old Girl Never Happened
February 2, 2019
Authorities now say the attempted kidnapping of a 14-year old girl on January 26 never happened.
The victim told deputies that a white male about 30-40 years old with green eyes and gray hair got out of a white van in the 1800 block of Atwood Drive. She said the male attempted to grab her while walking, but she was able to break free.
After an extensive investigation, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said the crime did not occur, and the victim has completely recanted her statement.
“The ECSO handles any allegation of attempted abductions seriously and investigate them to the fullest,” the agency said in a statement. “We are coordinating with the State Attorney’s Office to determine if any criminal charges will be pursued for the false reporting of a felony.”
Molino Man Dies In Baldwin County Crash
February 1, 2019
A Baldwin County crash claimed the life of a Molino man Thursday evening.
Terry Lynn Skinner, 51, was westbound about 5:30 p.m. in a 1998 Chevrolet 2500 truck when for unknown reasons the vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree on Highway 112 near Thunder Road, according to Alabama State Troopers. The crash in the Clear Springs community was about three miles from the Alabama-Florida state line where Muscogee Road becomes Highway 112 in Alabama.
Skinner was wearing his seat belt. He was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash. Alabama State Troopers are continuing their investigation.
The Gateswood Volunteer Fire Department and the Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue were among the other responding agencies.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
ECSO: Century Man Busted With Nearly 1.5 Pounds Of Meth And Marijuana
February 1, 2019
A Century man was arrested on multiple drug charges after he was found with nearly 1.5 pounds of marijuana and methamphetamine, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Tajah Derriontaé Calhoun, 20, was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, resisting an officer and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was later released from the Escambia County Jail on a $127,000 bond.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was conducting a “High Intensity Patrol” in the area of Kemp Road and Fields Lane, which they described as a known drug area. As deputies approached in marked patrol units, Calhoun ran. He jumped into a gated front yard on Fields Lane and threw a backpack and cellphone. A deputy caught up with Calhoun in a vacant field and placed him under arrest.
A search of Calhoun’s person reveled 8.5 Oxycodone pills, other unidentifiable pills, two phones and $1,320 in currency, according to an arrest report. A search of his backpack resulted in the discovery of 211 grams (7.44 ounces) of methamphetamine, almost 451 grams (about one pound) of marijuana, two rounds of ammunition, a box of clear baggies, and two digital scales.
The cellphones and cash were seized.
The report states that in-car video form deputies showed Calhoun throwing the backpack.
Argument Over Cooking Supper Ends With Woman Jailed For Pushing Deputy
February 1, 2019
A Cantonment woman was arrested after she allegedly argued with her adult son over cooking supper and later pushed a deputy.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance in the 1400 block of Lake Drive. Someone had called 911, and dispatchers could hear a male and female screaming, and a female yelling and crying in the background.
Jamillah Monique Sheffield, 36, stood in a doorway and obstructed deputies from entering the kitchen of the home, according to her arrest report. Deputies removed her from the doorway after she refused multiple commands to move. As a deputy placed her in handcuffs, she pushed the deputy in the chest.
Sheffield told deputies that she had gotten into a verbal argument with her son because she did not feel like cooking for the second night in a row. She was charged with felony resisting an officer with violence and obstruction of justice.