ECSO: Woman Smashed Stranded Motorist’s Windshield, Smuggled Meth Into County Jail
January 3, 2019
A McDavid woman allegedly used a baseball bat to bust the windshield of stranded motorist and smuggled meth into the Escambia County Jail.
Valene Walker, 33, was charged with criminal mischief, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana and two counts of introduction of contraband into a detention facility.
A woman told Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies that she ran out of gas and pulled into a driveway in the 6900 block of North Century Boulevard. She said Walker came outside, starting arguing with her before she picked up a baseball bat and busted the windshield, an arrest report states. Walker then allegedly fled the scene.
When Walker was arrested on a warrant for the incident, jailers reported finding 40 grams of methamphetamine in two plastic bags hidden in her bra.
Walker is awaiting trial on unrelated charges of trespassing and bribery. Last August, her ex-boyfriend called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to the 6000 block of North Century Boulevard after Walker was allegedly banging on the window of his residence. An arriving deputy reported that he observed Walker on the property causing a disturbance as she walked from the backdoor to the front yard of the home. Walker was previous trespass-warned from the property by the ECSO.
While Walker was being transported to the Escambia County Jail on the trespassing charge, she tried to bribe the deputy, according to an arrest report, by offering to give him the bond money in her possession so he would let her go. The report notes that audio and video were captured on the deputy’s in-car camera.
She remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning.
Florida Senator Wants To Map, Track And Inspect Septic Systems
January 3, 2019
Amid concerns that leaky septic systems are polluting waterways, a Senate Republican on Wednesday filed a proposal that would require the Florida Department of Health to identify all septic systems in the state by January 1, 2021, and provide a map of the systems.
The bill filed by Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota also would require inspections of septic systems at least once every five years and require the Department of Health to develop minimum standards and requirements for pumping out or repairing failing systems.
Those requirements would take effect July 1, 2022. The bill is filed for the 2019 legislative session, which starts March 5.
by The News Service of Florida
Tate Cheerleaders To Host Lil Aggies Winter Cheer Clinic
January 3, 2019
The Tate High School Cheerleaders will host the first ever Lil Aggies Winter Cheer Clinic on Friday, January 11 at 4:30 p.m. in the school gym for grades K-8. Immediately following the clinic, the Lil Aggies will join theTate Varsity Cheerleaders as they cheer on the varsity boys basketball team at 7:30 pm.
The Lil Aggies will cheer the first half of the game, and there will be a special performance at halftime.
Each Lil Aggie cheerleader will receive a face tattoo, pizza before the game, and free entry into the basketball game. The cost of this event is $30. Registration forms and payment are due by Tuesday, January 8. Paperwork and payment can be dropped off at Tate High School or given to any Tate varsity cheerleader.
To RSVP and receive an electronic registration form, click here.
December Ends With Seven Residential Fires In Escambia County
January 3, 2019
December ended with seven residential structure fires in Escambia County, including one that resulted in a fatality.
The first fire of the month destroyed a mobile home December 8 on Ivey Street in Century [more...]. The occupant was able to escape without injury.
Ronnie Owens passed away a few days after Christmas night fire n Rentz Avenue in Warrington.
The 2018 “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign ended with seven red bulbs representing each fire, fewer than the past three years. County officials said the decrease was likely due to a combination of a mild December and residents being diligent about practicing fire safety. The 2017 campaign ended with 10 red bulbs, the 2016 campaign ended with 12 red bulbs and the 2015 campaign ended with nine red bulbs.
The “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign is an Escambia County collaborative initiative with the city of Pensacola to promote fire safety during the month of December. Large red wreaths are on display at 23 fire stations and other public locations.
Each time firefighters respond to a residential fire with damage, a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by fires in residential home.
Escambia County Fire Rescue reminds residents to stay safe all year long by following these tips:
- Have a working smoke detector in every room of your home. If your home doesn’t have a working smoke detector, please call Escambia County Fire Rescue at 850-595-HERO (4376) or 850-436-5200 for city of Pensacola residents.
- Close your bedroom door at night when you sleep. In case of fire, a closed door can isolate the fire’s flow, reduce room temperature and keep carbon monoxide levels down.
- Have an escape plan and know two ways out of every room in your home.
- Never leave cooking food unattended. If you must leave the room, turn the stove off first.
- Don’t overload extension cords or wall outlets. Check your electrical cords. If they are cracked or damaged, replace them. Don’t try to repair them.
Pictured: A mobile home fire December 8 was the first Escambia County residential structure fire of December. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jay Receives $600K Grant For Water Line Replacement
January 3, 2019
The Town of Jay has been awarded a $600,000 grant to replace water lines for 223 residents.
The Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant will replace water lines along McCutchin Drive, Hendricks Circle, Blackmon Drive, a portion of Florida Avenue, Calfee Street, McCurdy Avenue, Clanton Street, Williams Avenue, Robin Street, Mildred Street, a portion of Spring Street, North State Street and Highway 4.
The grant program, administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), help communities fund economic activities, infrastructure improvements and housing rehabilitation.
Cissy Proctor, executive director of DEO, said, “Supporting the economic development of Florida’s small and rural communities is vital to the continued growth of our diverse economy. I am proud of the work we are doing to make these important economic investments that are paving the way for a bright future for many Florida families.”
Report Points To ‘Failures’ In Parkland School Massacre (With Full Report)
January 3, 2019
“Personal and system failures” culminated in the mass shooting that left 14 students and three faculty members dead and 17 people wounded at a Broward County high school, according to a report by a state panel that spent months investigating the Valentine’s Day massacre.
The report, unanimously approved Wednesday by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, blamed the Broward County school system and sheriff’s office for being unprepared and for delays in responding to the volley of bullets from the AR-15 rifle used by confessed killer Nikolas Cruz.
According to the 446-page report, sheriff’s deputies spent several minutes donning bullet-proof vests, while others hid behind cars, as Cruz methodically went from room to room gunning down teachers and teenagers at his former school.
Cruz, who has pleaded not guilty to 17 counts of murder, had a lengthy history of mental-health problems and run-ins with authority figures, including law enforcement and school officials, leading up to the Feb. 14 assault on the Parkland school in an affluent neighborhood in western Broward County.
While “personal and system failures” resulted in the horrific school shooting, “it is important to be mindful that the one true ‘cause’ that resulted in 34 people being shot and/or killed, is Nikolas Cruz,” the preface to the report said.
State lawmakers responded to the mass shooting, which occurred during the 2018 legislative session, by quickly passing a sweeping law that raised from 18 to 21 the age to buy long guns, such as the rifle Cruz legally purchased; banned so-called “bump stocks;” and imposed school-safety requirements and mental-health screenings for students.
The new law also required all schools to have at least one school safety officer and allowed districts to hire armed “guardians” — school personnel whose primary job duties are outside the classroom — to supplement the officers, who are usually deputies.
In its report Wednesday, the state panel recommended that classroom teachers also be allowed to act as armed “guardians,” even though that controversial idea created an impasse before the school-safety measure passed last year.
Allowing specially trained teachers with concealed-weapons licenses to bring guns to classrooms was among the many recommendations offered by the commission, which was created as part of the law. The only commission member to vote against the armed-teacher proposal was Max Schachter, whose 14-year-old son Alex was among the slain students.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday afternoon, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, chairman of the commission, defended the proposal.
“This isn’t about ideology. This is about reality, and this is about making sure that we can save kids’ lives,” Gualtieri said.
Cruz reloaded five times during the minutes-long assault at the high school, Gualtieri said.
“Anybody who thinks we’re going to get rid of guns is crazy. We’ve got to do something,” said the sheriff, who at one time opposed allowing teachers to carry weapons but has since reversed his stance.
Teachers should undergo “an absolutely rigorous selection process” and training prior to getting permission to bring guns to schools, Gualtieri said, adding that Floridians “have to be realistic” about the threats schools are facing.
The “best possibility” to reduce the harm to students and faculty is to have someone trained with a gun on campus, he said.
“And that’s school staff,” he said.
The report also encouraged schools and law enforcement agencies to implement “effective response systems and policies, including active assailant training.”
The commission reviewed hours of video and audio from the school and emergency responses to the shooting and heard tearful testimony from parents, students and others during its months-long probe.
“Safety and security accountability is lacking in schools,” the preface to the report said. “There must be a sense of urgency — and there is not, across the board — in enhancing school safety.”
The report found that “school safety in Florida needs to be improved,” a position Gualtieri elaborated on during Wednesday’s news conference.
“The reality of this is that it is going to happen again. The question is where. The question is when,” the sheriff said, urging leaders to consider “what changes have we made to mitigate the harm as quickly as possible.”
The recommendations ranged from broad-based advice about issues such as “harm mitigation” to specific suggestions about items such as locked classroom doors and bulletproof windows.
The report also urged school officials and others to identify potentially dangerous students as young as possible, indicating that early intervention could have prevented the Parkland tragedy. The panel also advised officials to ensure that “mental and behavioral issues are properly addressed.”
“At its core, basic, effective school safety begins with prevention. Prevention strategies not only focus on target hardening, but include early intervention when youth demonstrate indicators that should be immediately and appropriately assessed and addressed,” the report read.
Mother And Her Adult Daughter Shot In Molino; Suspect Arrested
January 2, 2019
A mother and her adult daughter were shot in Molino Tuesday night, and a suspect out on bond for a previous assault was arrested for attempted murder in under two hours.
Deputies arrested 21-year old Justin Demarte Young shortly after the 7:50 p.m. incident in the 1200 block of Barth Road, just east of Highway 29. That’s where they found Aretha Vaughn and her daughter Mea Vaughn suffering from gunshot wounds.
Mea Vaughn was shot on the left side of her face, and Aretha Vaughn was shot in the back and abdomen. The victims were transported to area hospitals by Escambia County EMS.
For a photo gallery from the shooting scene, click here.
Young fled the scene and was taken into custody about 25 miles away in the 7700 block of Kipling Street off East Olive Road. He was charged with two counts of attempted first degree premeditated murder. His bond was set at a quarter of a million dollars. While being transported to the Escambia County Jail, Young denied being at location of the shooting on Tuesday.
Young had been temporarily staying with the Vaughns, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The women told deputies that he just walked in the door and started shooting at them without saying anything.
Another man that lives in the same residence told deputies that he was not at home at the time of the incident, but a day before the shooting Aretha Vaughn had argued with Young over loud rap music with vulgarities he was playing in the presence of underage children.
Young had allegedly moved in with the women after being kicked out of his residence after allegedly pulling a gun. According to an arrest report from that September 20 incident, he allegedly threatened to shoot woman, claiming she was the reason he lost his job. Her child younger son was reportedly in the room at the time.
Young was arrested October 23 and was out of jail on a $10,000 bond awaiting trial on two counts of felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence related. He was set to enter a plea in the case on January 2.
For a photo gallery from the shooting scene, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
NextEra Completes Deal To Purchase Gulf Power
January 2, 2019
Gulf Power started 2019 with a new owner.
NextEra Energy Inc., the parent company of Florida Power & Light, announced early Tuesday that it has finished an earlier-announced deal to purchase Gulf Power from the Atlanta-based Southern Company. The deal expands NextEra’s already-large footprint in Florida and is a major change in the Panhandle, where Gulf serves about 450,000 customers in eight counties.
In a statement Tuesday announcing the completion of the sale, NextEra Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim Robo praised Gulf Power’s work to restore electricity after Hurricane Michael caused massive damage in October in Northwest Florida.
“The last few months have been among the most challenging periods in Gulf Power’s rich history as the team worked tirelessly to restore power to those impacted by Hurricane Michael,” Robo said. “We couldn’t be more pleased by Gulf Power’s performance and commitment to getting the lights back on during what were extremely dangerous and difficult conditions. As we turn to the future, we look forward to extending to Gulf Power’s customers our best-in-class value proposition of low bills, clean energy, high reliability and outstanding customer service.”
NextEra and Southern Company in May announced a $6.475 billion deal that included NextEra purchasing Gulf Power, the Florida City Gas natural-gas company and ownership interests in two power plants. The parts of the deal involving Florida City Gas and the power plants had already been completed.
In a statement Tuesday, Thomas A. Fanning, chairman, president and CEO of Southern Company, said the deal would bolster his company.
“These sales deliver substantial value to Southern Company and our stockholders,” he said. “By strengthening our financial position and allowing us to fund our business without raising significant additional capital, the value proposition of this deal is clear.”
In the initial May announcement of the deal, NextEra said the $6.475 billion purchase price included assuming about $1.4 billion of Gulf Power debt. It also said the Gulf Power purchase was expected to close during the first half of 2019 — but NextEra and Southern Company issued news releases on New Year’s Day announcing the completion.
Gulf Power is the fourth-largest private electric utility in the state, behind Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy Florida and Tampa Electric Co. Gulf serves customers in Bay, Escambia, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Washington counties.
Florida Power & Light, by comparison, has about 5 million customers, with its territory including much of the state’s East Coast, heavily populated South Florida and much of Southwest Florida.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Traffic Delays
January 2, 2019
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and project areas in Escambia County as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
- Crary Road Bridge Replacement - Crary Road will be temporarily closed between Tedder Road and Byrneville Road as crews construct a bridge culvert. Motorists will be detoured via County Road (C.R.) 4 and Byrneville Road.
- Bratt Road Bridge Replacement over Canoe Creek - Bratt Road will continue to be closed near Canoe Creek during construction. 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.
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to U.S. 90 (Nine Mile Road) – The following traffic impacts will occur Wednesday, Jan. 2 through Saturday, Jan.5. Work requiring lane restrictions will take place from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- 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 Wednesday 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 Wednesday through Saturday.
- Detroit Boulevard will be closed on the east side of the U.S. 29 intersection from 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4 to 6 a.m. Monday, Jan. 7 as workers widen the intersection. Motorists may use Pittman Avenue and Broad Street as an alternate route. Detour signs and Variable Message Boards are in place to alert drivers about the upcoming work and detour.
- I-10 from Exit 5 to Exit 17- Drivers traveling I-10 from Exit 5 (U.S. 90 alternate exit) to Exit 17 (U.S. 90 Scenic Highway) will encounter alternating and intermittent, east and westbound lane restrictions of the inside and outside lanes from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 6 through Thursday, Jan. 10 as crews perform lighting repairs.
- I-110 (S.R. 8A) from Exit 1A to Exit 6- Motorists will encounter north and southbound, alternating and intermittent lane restriction on I-110 from Exit 1A (Gregory Street) to Exit 6 (I-10 to Davis Highway) from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 6 through Thursday, Jan. 10 as crews perform lighting repairs.
- State Road (S.R.) 752 (East Texar drive) at I-110 (S.R. 8A)- Motorists will encounter east and westbound, outside lane restrictions on S.R. 752 at I-110 from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8 as crews perform lighting repairs.
- S.R. 295 (West Fairfield Drive) at I-110 (S.R. 8A)- Motorists will encounter alternating and intermittent, east and westbound lane restrictions on S.R. 295 at I-110 from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. Monday, Jan. 7 as crews perform lighting repairs.
- S.R. 296 (Brent Lane) at I-110 (S.R. 8A)- Motorists will encounter alternating and intermittent, east and westbound lane restrictions on S.R. 296 at I-110 from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 7 as crews perform lighting repairs.
- S.R. 750 (Airport Boulevard) at I-110 (S.R. 8A)- Motorists will encounter alternating and intermittent, east and westbound, outside lane restrictions on S.R. 750 at I-110 from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 6 as crews perform lighting repairs.
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.
Cantonment Man Charged With Hitting, Biting Pregnant Girlfriend
January 2, 2019
A Cantonment man is facing felony charges after allegedly hitting and biting his pregnant girlfriend.
Shawn Joseph Levy, 38, was charged with aggravated battery on a pregnant victim and kidnapping.
The victim told Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies that she told Levy she wanted to go home to Louisiana to visit her children, but that angered him. He told her to get out, snatched her off a bed, carried her outside, placed her in his vehicle and drove away, according to an arrest report.
While driving, Levy continued to hit his girlfriend, before stopping the vehicle and telling her to get out. He stopped the vehicle, walked to the passenger side and forcibly threw her out of the vehicle, the report states. She said he bit her arm during the altercation.
The victim suffered injuries consistent with her claims, according to deputies.
Levy was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $20,000 bond.