Mississippi Man Faces Up To Life After Escambia County Murder Conviction
January 17, 2025
A Mississippi man faces up to life in prison after being convicted of a 2021 Escambia County murder.
A jury found Dewitt Charles Echols guilty of second degree murder. He will be sentenced in March.
On August 23, 2021, deputies were called to the 10000 block of North Loop Road. Upon arrival, they discovered a 33-year-old James Johnson dead with a gunshot wound sitting in the driver’s seat of a brown Chevrolet Malibu. The engine to the car was still running.
The U.S. Marshal’s Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested Echols in Hattiesburg, Mississippi following the murder.
Jay High Student Charged With Weapon, Drug Possession After Weapon Found In Vehicle
January 17, 2025
A Jay High School students was arrested after a weapon and drugs were found in a vehicle.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office said the student, who has not been identified, was charged with possession of a weapon and drugs.
The Santa Rosa County School District said a weapon and other items were found during the search of a student vehicle, and the items were seized.
“At no time were students or staff in any danger. Our staff is following all protocols, adhering to the code of student conduct, and following Florida State Statutes to maintain a safe and secure environment for everyone. At this time, further action will be addressed by Santa Rosa County Sherriff’s Office,” the district said in a statement.
Cantonment 10,000 Pound Food Distribution Rescheduled
January 17, 2025
THIS DISTRIBUTION HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 28. — Times and location will be the same.
The Cantonment Improvement Committee will host a 10,000 pound food distribution on Tuesday, January 28 at Carver Park, 208 Webb Street.
The event will start at 3 p.m. Attendees should like up facing north on Webb Street. Must have an identification to receive food.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Tate Lady Aggies Down Northview 56-37 (With Gallery)
January 17, 2025
The Tate Aggies defeated the Northview Chiefs 56-37 Thursday night in Bratt.
Sam Williams led the Lady Aggies will 12 points, while Kaylie Mitchell added 11 and Amerie McGee had 10. Sarah Mitchell, Grace Best and Taylor Malone added six points each. Kahari Davis had three, and Brelynn Morris had two.
Stats for Northview were not entered Thursday night.
The Northview Lady Chiefs will travel to Laurel Hill Friday night at 6:00, and the Lady Aggies are next scheduled to be in action January 23 at Santa Rosa Christian.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Missing Endangered Runaway Teen Located
January 16, 2025
UPDATE: Alyssa Harper has been located.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing and endangered runaway teen last seen Wednesday in Cottage Hill.
Alyssa Rosemary Harper, 14, was last seen in the 700 block of Eden Lane.
She was wearing a black hoodie, a grey shirt, grey sweatpants, and white Converse-style shoes. She is 110 pounds, 5 feet, 2 inches tall, and has strawberry blonde hair.
Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
DeSantis Picks AG Ashley Moody For Rubio Senate Seat
January 16, 2025
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday morning that Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody will take Marco Rubio’s seat in the U.S. Senate. She will the second woman to represent Florida in the Senate chamber.
Rubio, a three-term senator was President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to be his secretary of state. He is awaiting confirmation as soon as next week.
“I pledge to you as United States Senator, supporting the REINS Act, supporting any effort to rein back in our out-of-control federal agencies. Make sure politics have pushed out of it,” Moody said. “Make sure we bring down spending. I am all for that, and I got the backs of the American people, DOGE and President Trump.”
Florida’ top law enforcement office, Moody ran on a campaign promise to be a prosecutor, not a politician. She previously worked as a federal prosecutor and was elected as a circuit judge in Tampa’s Hillsborough County.
Moody will serve in the U.S. Senate until the next general election in 2026, when she will need to run in order to keep the seat.
In Orlando Thursday morning for the announcement, DeSantis said Moody has a record of getting things done.
“This is a once in a decade, maybe even once in a generation, opportunity,” DeSantis said. “This current Congress is ultimately going to determine whether we do usher in that revival of the American experiment, or is it just going to be status quo, passing the buck and nothing ever changes.”
Pictured: Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday morning in Orlando that Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody will take Marco Rubio’s seat in the U.S. Senate. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Highway 29 Crash Claims Brewton Man, Injures Woman
January 16, 2025
An 83-year-old Brewton man was pronounced deceased at the scene of a single vehicle rollover crash just before daybreak Thursday on Highway 29 in McDavid.
The crash happened about 6 a.m. on Highway 29 about a mile north of Champion Drive and the West Fraser Sawmill.
The Florida Highway patrol said the man was the driver of a Chevrolet S10 pickup truck that was traveling south. He ran off the roadway, crossed over the median and northbound lanes before running up a small embankment and colliding with a tree. The pickup overturned, coming to rest on its passenger side in a ditch. He was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced deceased at the scene.
His passenger, a 62-year-old Brewton woman, was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital in critical condition. Neither individual was wearing a seat belt, according to troopers.
The crash closed northbound Highway 29 for about an hour.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Applications Accepted Until Noon Friday For Century Town Council Seat Appointment
January 16, 2025
Noon Friday is the deadline for interested Century residents to apply for appointment to a vacant seat on the town council.
Last week, Luis Gomez, Jr. resigned as mayor for medical reasons effective Friday, January 10, just as his new four-year term was beginning. After volunteering for the position, Seat 4 town council member Alicia John was appointed interim mayor. She will serve until a special election is held. and she has indicated that she will run for the seat.
Johnson’s interim move into the mayor’s office opened her seat on the town council. The town is accepting applications from citizens looking for an interim appointment to the town council to serve until a special election is held. Applications are due to noon, Friday, January 17.
The town announced Friday, January 10, that applications should be hand submitted or mailed to the Town Clerk’s Office, 7995 North Century Boulevard, Century, FL 32535 or hand-delivered between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. to the same address. Applications can also be emailed to mwalker@centuryflorida.us.
Click here to download the application.
The town council is expected to review the applications and make a decision on an interim member on January 21.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
Northview High Students Receive Required CPR Training
January 16, 2025
Juniors at Northview high school received required hand-on CRP and AED training Wednesday, led by cardiologist Dr. Bevin Weeks from Nemours Children’s Health.
Florida statute requires students in 9th and 11th grade to participate in basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training.
Students gathered in the gym to learn how to properly perform chest compressions on CPR manikins. According to the American Heart Association, immediate CPR can double or triple the chances of survival after cardiac arrest. With more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occurring outside of a hospital setting each year, bystander intervention plays a crucial role in patient outcome.
By the end of the school year, more than 2,000 students across seven Escambia County high schools will have received training on how to effectively administer CPR, as well as instruction on how to use automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
George Stone Technical College Names Student Of The Month
January 16, 2025
George Stone Technical College recently named their Student of the Month for November. He is William Stanhope who is learning pipe welding in an advance welding class.
“He has proven that he has a desire to be the best of the best in this profession and for that he deserves to be the student of the month,” the college said.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.