Pensacola Police Seek Suspect In Robbery And Shooting
April 17, 2018
The Pensacola Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a man wanted on robbery and aggravated battery with a firearm charges.
Zachary Shabaz Peterson Jr. has an active warrant with the Pensacola Police Departmen for a robbery and shooting on April 15 in the 1000 block of N. ‘J’ Street
Police said he may still be armed.
Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or call the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1900.
Grants Up $500 Available For CRA Neighborhood Improvement Projects
April 17, 2018
The Escambia County Neighborhood & Human Services Department is accepting applications for the spring cycle of the Neighborhood Renewal Initiative Mini Grant Program, funded through the county’s Community Development Block Grant Program. Applications are due Friday, June 29.
Neighborhood organizations located within the boundaries of one of the county’s Community Redevelopment Areas (CRA) are eligible to apply for up to $500 for projects that promote community and volunteer-based redevelopment efforts in a targeted neighborhood. Past applicants have completed neighborhood beautification projects, neighborhood signs and house numbering projects.
There are currently nine redevelopment districts in Escambia County — Atwood, Barrancas, Brownsville, Cantonment, Englewood, Ensley, Oakfield, Palafox and Warrington.
Applications can be submitted to the Neighborhood & Human Services Department at cra@myescambia.com, dropped off or mailed to 221 Palafox Place, Suite 305, Attn: Lily Blackburn. Click here for an application.
To determine if a property is located within a CRA District, click here and search the address from the drop down menu at the top of the screen. For more information, contact Lily Blackburn with the Community Redevelopment Agency at (850) 595-3585 or cra@myescambia.com.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Meet The Three Finalists For Escambia County Fire Chief
April 16, 2018
Interviews are set to be held this week with the three finalists for the Escambia County fire chief job.
The county expects to being the top three candidates to Escambia County on Thursday to tour the Emergency Operations Center and public safety building, and some local Escambia County Fire Rescue stations, followed by a meet and greet with staff, volunteer firefighters and full-time firefighters. The selection committee will conduct in-person interviews with the top three candidates Friday morning.
The finalists for Escambia County fire chiefs are, in alphabetical order:
Stephen F. Cox, South Bend, IN
Stephen Cox is a U.S. Army veteran with 25 years experience in fire services.
Cox has been with the South Bend Fire Deportment since 1993. He began as a firefighter/paramedic and promoted to lieutenant and captain before becoming assistant chief of EMS in 2007. The department provides service from 11 fire stations with an annual operational budget of approximately $33 million. the full-time staff consists of 257 sworn firefighters and eight civilian support staff.
He was promoted to fire chief in 2012. He served as as an Army combat medic for over five years, including deployment to Seoul, South Korea, and during Operation Desert Shield/Storm.
Cox holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Indiana University in South Bend and has completed courses from the National Fire Academy.
Russell Clark Nail, Melbourne, FL
Russell Nail has 26 years experience in fire services, including over nine years at the command level. He has led departments with up to 17 fire stations, over 500 personnel and up to a $100 million budget.
Nail has worked as fire chief-emergency manager for the City of Palm Bay Fire Rescue Department in Florida since July 2017, and previously served as battalion chief in administration. In 2004, has was a lieutenant of field operations and training for the City of Orlando Fire Department and worked his way through the ranks as a district chief, assistant fire chief and deputy fire chief. He began his fire service as a volunteer for the Brevard County Fire Department .
He holds a bachelor of science degree in fire and emergency services from the University of Florida and associates degrees in general studies and fire science technology from Brevard Community College.
Paul Randall Smith, Mobile, AL
Paul Smith has 35 years experience in EMS, 31 years in the fire service, 22 years in disaster response and just over a year in law enforcement.
Smith is currently deputy chief of operations for the Mobile Fire Department, responsible for third shift including 130 personnel, 20 stations, 25 engines and ladder trucks and 11 ambulances. He has served the Mobile Fire Department as deputy chief and interim fire chief. He spent just over a year as a police cadet with the Mobile Police Department.
He has worked with the U.S. Department of Health and Hume Services National Disaster Medical System since August 1995.
Smith holds a masters degree in emergency management and a bachelors of science in emergency services administration.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Local Elementary Students Shine At Sunshine Math Competition
April 16, 2018
Hundreds of Escambia County elementary school students took part in the annual Sunshine Math Competition this past weekend at Washington High School.
Winners were:
3rd Grade Team
- Molino Park elementary School’s Team 1
- McArthur Elementary School’s Team 1
- McArthur Elementary School’s Team 2
3rd Grade Individual
- Ethan White, Pine Meadow Elementary School
- Jordan Foster, A.K. Suter Elementary School
- Presley Johnson, Bratt Elementary School
4th Grade Team
- Lipscomb Elementary School
- McArthur Elementary School
- Pleasant Grove Elementary School
4th Grade Individual
- Parker Mims, R.C. Lipscomb Elementary School
- Peyton Brummet, N.B. Cook Elementary School
- Ray Duong, N.B.Cook Elementary School
5th Grade Team
- Hellen Caro Elementary School’s Team 2
- Cordova Park Elementary School’s Team 1
- Scenic Heights Elementary School’s Team 1
5th Grade Individual
- Aiden Ripley, Scenic Heights Elementary School
- Brody Hills, Pensacola Beach Elementary School
- Benjamin Fulkerson, Blue Angels Elementary School
Additional North Escambia winners are pictured below, scroll down.
3rd grade, second place McArthur Elementary School’s Team 1.
3rd grade, third place, McArthur Elementary School’s Team 2.
3rd grade, first place individual Ethan White, Pine Meadow Elementary School.
3rd place individual, Presley Johnson, Bratt Elementary School
4th grade, first place Lipscomb Elementary
4th grade, second place McArthur Elementary
4th grade, first place individual Parker Mims, R.C. Lipscomb Elementary School
Photos courtesy Kim Stefansson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule
April 16, 2018
Here is a schedule of Escambia County public meetings for the week of April 16-20:
Monday, April 16
Public Safety Coordinating Council – 12 p.m., M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building, 190 Government St.
Tuesday, April 17
Board of Electrical Examiners – 9 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Community Redevelopment Agency – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place (Agenda)
BCC Agenda Review – 9:15 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place
Pensacola-Escambia Development Commission Board of Directors – 2 p.m., 418 W. Garden St.
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
BCC Public Forum – 4:30 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place
BCC Regular Meeting – 5:30 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place (Agenda)
Wednesday, April 18
Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District – 8 a.m., 151 Highway 97, Molino
Board of Adjustment – 8:30 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Escambia County Disability Awareness Committee – 3 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Friday, April 20
Selection Committee Fire Chief Interviews – 8:30 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place
Expect Daily Lane Restrictions On Highway 29 In Century
April 16, 2018
Drivers can expect intermittent lane restrictions on North Century Boulevard (Highway 29) in Century the next few days.
Crews will perform pavement testing daily until Wednesday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. from East Highway 4 to the Alabama state line.
This is in addition to northbound, outside lane closures between 5 p.m. and 5 a.m. daily as crews work to install a natural gas pipleline.
For a complete list of this week’s traffic problems on state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, click here.
Delton Boswell Passes Away Several Months After Receiving Very Special Gift
April 16, 2018
Delton Eugene Boswell, Jr. passed away Saturday. He was 54.
Boswell was an Escambia County employee over 30 years — many of those years at the Escambia County Road prison.
We introduced you to Delton and his story on Christmas Day 2016 after he received a very special gift.
While undergoing his second surgery in 16 months, the officers at the road prison’s Camp 5 came together to support their supervisor and friend. A few months prior, they decided to finish the restoration work he had started on his 1956 Ford Crown Victoria Sunliner.
Days after one of Boswell’s surgeries, two of the officers loaded up the car to have the exhaust re-done at George’s Muffler Shop. Later, 18 officers and friends gathered at a garage to give the car an overhaul. In 10 hours, the car had a new gas tank, new Edelbrock carburetor, new seats, radiator repair (special thanks to Danny Cain) and other fix-ups before the big reveal.
As Boswell turned into the driveway, the garage door was raised and the car pulled out while friends and family followed behind. Lots of smile and lots of tears were shed along with a prayer.
Visitation for Delton Eugene Boswell, Jr. will be 5-8 p.m. Thursday at Faith Chapel North. Funerals services will be held Friday morning at 11:00 at Faith Chapel North, with burial to follow at Eastern Gate Memorial Gardens.
Driver Uninjured In Sunday Night Cantonment Accident
April 16, 2018
A driver refused medical treatment after a single vehicle rollover crash Sunday in Cantonment. The accident occurred about 9:20 p.m. in the 1000 block of South County Road 97, near Tobias Road. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Century Historical Board Approves Replacement Of Tornado Damaged Mobile Home
April 16, 2018
The Century Historic Preservation Board has approved the replacement of a tornado damaged 1964 mobile home located within the Alger Sullivan Historical District.
The current residence at 581 Church Street is actually two mobile homes in an “L” shape, and one was damaged by a February 2016 EF-.3 tornado that struck the town.
The replacement will be funded by a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) that was received by the Town of Century for tornado recovery. The new home will have two bedrooms and two bathrooms and will be handicap accessible.
Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Drop Third Straight
April 16, 2018
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos lost5-4 to Chattanooga Sunday.
For the third straight game the Blue Wahoos had a late-game threat, and for the third straight game, they came up empty.
The Blue Wahoos played catchup for a majority of Sunday’s finale and left the tying run in scoring position in the ninth to lose their second-straight series to open the season.
Wyatt Strahan (L, 1-1) was roughed up in his second start and Lookouts starter Kohl Stewart (W, 2-0) briefly flirted with a perfect game.
In Sunday’s matinee, Chattanooga scored first for the first time in the series by cashing in on an error by Gavin LaValley combined with an RBI-single by T.J. White.
White wasn’t done there, because when he came to the plate in the third inning with a man out, he crushed his second homer of the year to make it 3-0. White finished the game with three of Chattanooga’s five RBIs. Zander Wiel also had a big day at the plate going 3-for-4 and getting hit by a Strahan pitch.
Meanwhile, Stewart was tremendous to open the game for the Lookouts. He retired the first 13 Blue Wahoos he faced before Josh VanMeter walked for the Wahoos’ first baserunner. Aristides Aquino ended the no-hitter bid on the next pitch when he roped a double into left to put to men in scoring position. The Wahoos would only settle for one run in the fifth thanks to Brian O’Grady’s RBI groundout.
Pensacola rallied for two more in the sixth when Nick Longhi homered off Stewart to score Shed Long and make it a one-run game. Again, the Wahoos had the tying run in scoring position but stranded him there when Aquino ended the inning with a flyout.
Ryan Walker’s eighth-inning home run proved to be a massive insurance run because in the bottom of the eighth, Long and Longhi opened the frame with singles and then advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. LaValley hit a sac fly to make it 5-4 and Longhi was at third base with only one out in the inning; however, Gabby Guerrero and VanMeter were both retired to end the threat.
The Wahoos made one final push in the ninth when Aquino led off the inning of the ninth with a double, but Harper retired O’Grady and Garrett Boulware before Williams Ramirez (S, 2) struck out pinch-hitter CJ McElroy for his second save of the year.