Scott Stops In Escambia County To Stump For Legislative Priorities
May 5, 2017
With the annual legislative session scheduled to end Friday, Gov. Rick Scott made a stop in Pensacola Thursday afternoon to tout his priorities, including money for Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida.
He has clashed for months with House Speaker Richard Corcoran about funding for those agencies. A budget outline negotiated by legislative leaders would not provide money to Enterprise Florida for business incentives and would provide $25 million to Visit Florida for tourism, marketing, about a third of what Scott sought.
“Enterprise Florida is going to be basically shut down, so we will have no more Navy Federal Credit Unions,” Scott said. He has frequently highlighted Enterprise Florida’s role in landing Navy Federal and its thousands of jobs in Escambia County.
Scott urged those in attendance to contact members of the Florida Legislature and push for Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida funding.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Atmore Marks National Day Of Prayer (With Gallery)
May 5, 2017
Atmore marked the National Day of Prayer Thursday with several events, drawing the faithful and pastors from Alabama and Florida. A prayer walk was held at Atmore City Hall, followed by prayer at the Veterans Memorial. A community prayer service and Bible reading was held Thursday afternoon in the Cornell Torrence Gym at Escambia County High School.
Community, business and spiritual leaders led those gathered in prayer before the annual Bible reading for government, the church, the family, media, education and business.
For a photo gallery, click here.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured: National Day of Prayer events in Atmore Thursday. Inset: A woman plays a shofar, an ancient musical horn made from a ram’s horn and used for religious purposes. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Locals Gather To Discuss Coyote Issues
May 5, 2017
Nine local residents met with UF IFAS Extension, UF IFAS Ag Communications, and the FWC to discuss encounter issues with coyotes. Participants included residents from the North Escambia area as well as Pensacola Beach. Information collected during this focus group meeting will be complied with comments from similar meetings in other parts of the state to develop “living with coyote” education materials and programs. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview’s Ohijie Elliott Signs With Alabama Prep Birmingham
May 5, 2017
Northview High School senior Ohijie Elliott has signed to play football for Alabama Prep Birmingham. He is pictured at a signing ceremony Thursday afternoon at Northview with family, friends and fellow Northview Chiefs players.
Deputies Seek Circle K Armed Robbers
May 5, 2017
Just after midnight on May 1, masked individuals walked into the Circle K on Burgess Road, pointed a gun at the clerk and demanded money. After robbing the clerk at gunpoint, the masked suspects then robbed a customer. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-960. Submitted images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Santa Rosa Detention Deputy Accused Of Using Excessive Force On Juvenile
May 4, 2017
A Santa Rosa County juvenile detention deputy was arrested Wednesday for allegedly using excessive force on a minor.
Detention Deputy Sgt. Ovando Vincente Blankenship was charged with cruelty toward a child and falsifying official documents, both third degree felonies.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office said Blankenship used “inordinate force” to place a juvenile into a cell on April 21 and then falsified his report of the incident. Video obtained by detectives varied in detail from Blankenship’s official report of the incident, a news release states.
Blackenship’s mugshot has been withheld by authorities under Florida law. He is being held in the Santa Rosa County Jail.
The investigation is continuing.
Two Busted For Meth While Dropping Off Child At Jim Allen Elementary
May 4, 2017
Two people were arrested on methamphetamine related charges after dropped a child off at Jim Allen Elementary School.
Robert Clinton Wooten, 36, was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also cited for driving while license suspended and attached tag not assigned. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday with bond set at $5,500. Camie Denean Linton, 34, was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. She remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $3,000.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy reported seeing Wooten turn into Jim Allen Elementary and recognized him as someone that has eluded law enforcement in the past. A computer checked revealed an improper tag on the vehicle, and the deputy conducted a traffic stop after a child exited the vehicle for school.
A K-9 alerted for drugs in the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed drug paraphernalia, methamphetamine and other items in the center console, in reach of both Winton and Linton, according to an arrest report. Both were taken into custody and transported to the Escambia County Jail.
Escaped Century Correctional Prisoner Captured In Bratt (With Exclusive Photos)
May 4, 2017
A Century Correctional Institution inmate that escaped from a work release detail Wednesday afternoon is back in custody.
Inmate Richard L. Ethridge, 31, fled from the Escambia County “Camp 5″ Road Camp on Bratt Road at Camp Road. He was recaptured about five miles away off Toler Road in the edge of a wooded area that is about 2,000 feet off North Highway 99 about 1.5 miles south of Bratt Elementary School.
He was captured by a Florida Department of Corrections K-9 Unit from Century Correctional. He was taken into custody by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and transported to the Escambia County Jail where he will be charged with escape and returned to the Department of Corrections.
The Florida Department of Corrections, the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office, the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office, Florida State Troopers, the Escambia Road Prison K-9 teams and other law enforcement agencies participated in the manhunt.
Ethridge is less than one year into a five year, four month sentence on multiple burglary and stolen property charges out of Marion County, FL.
Northview High School was placed on a limited precautionary lockdown earlier this afternoon but school released as usual.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Driver Extricated After Old Chemstrand Road Crash
May 4, 2017
Firefighters used the Jaws of Life to extricate a driver pinned in a single vehicle rollover crash early Wednesday evening in Cantonment.
The accident was reported about 6:45 p.m. on Old Chemstrand Road near Mill Creek Trail. The Jeep Laredo came to rest upside down against a utility pole. The driver’s injuries were no considered life threatening. The accident was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Scott Declares Opioid ‘Emergency’ In Florida
May 4, 2017
Pointing to thousands of overdose deaths, Gov. Rick Scott issued an executive order Wednesday that said an opioid epidemic has created a “state of emergency” in Florida.
Scott’s order, and a related “public health emergency” declaration by Surgeon General Celeste Philip, came as lawmakers look to increase criminal penalties related to the potent synthetic opioid fentanyl. It also came after calls across the state for the governor to declare an emergency because of deaths linked to drugs such as fentanyl and heroin.
“I know firsthand how heartbreaking substance abuse can be to a family because it impacted my own family growing up,” Scott said in a prepared statement. “The individuals struggling with drug use are sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and friends and each tragic case leaves loved ones searching for answers and praying for help. Families across our nation are fighting the opioid epidemic and Florida is going to do everything possible to help our communities.”
Scott’s office said the order will allow Florida to immediately draw down $27 million in federal money that can be used for prevention, treatment and recovery services. Philip’s order authorizes pharmacists to dispense the drug naloxone to emergency responders. Naloxone can be used to block the effects of opioids and prevent overdoses.
The Department of Health, the Department of Children and Families and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement also have held a series of workshops this week across the state about issues related to opioid use.
A key lawmaker Wednesday praised Scott for taking action on the issue.
“He wanted to identify that the crisis was real, and get some evidence and gather some opinions from people and not go out half-cocked on it,” said Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala, a Clearwater Republican who said he had met with Scott’s staff about the opioid issue. “So, that’s what he did. I think the important thing is that he has done it.”
The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill (HB 477) that would impose tough criminal penalties on people who traffic in fentanyl, which is often mixed with drugs such as heroin and is one of the causes of increased overdose deaths.
The bill, in part, would create a first-degree felony offense for trafficking in fentanyl and similar drugs, with trafficking defined as involving four grams or more. The bill still needs House approval because senators made a change that would give judges some discretion in sentencing people convicted of fentanyl trafficking.
During a debate Tuesday, senators described the effects of fentanyl on their communities.
“This is a fire out of control that is deadly,” said Sen. Dennis Baxley, an Ocala Republican who son is a sheriff’s deputy.
by The News Service of Florida
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio met recently with Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan, Pensacola Police Chief David Alexander, Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward and other local officials to discuss combating the opioid crisis in Florida. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.