Free Dog, Cat Adoptions At Escambia Shelter Continue Through Monday
December 28, 2024
Free adoptions for all dogs and cats one year or older continue through Monday, December 30 during the “Home for the Paw-lidays” adoption event at the Escambia County animal shelter.
Puppies are available for $50 and kittens are $25. A $15 licensing fee will be applied to all adoptions for Escambia County residents. To see a full list of adoptable pets in Escambia County, visit 24petconnect.com.
The Escambia County Animal Welfare and Adoption Center is located at 200 W. Fairfield Drive. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 12 – 5 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. The shelter will be closed December 31, and January 1 in observance of New Year’s Day.
One Injured In Highway 29 Crash Near Roberts Road
December 27, 2024
At least one person was reportedly injured in a crash Friday afternoon on Highway 29 north of Roberts Road.
The crash happened about 12:30 p.m. near Ronny’s Car Wash, backup up traffic on Highway 29 southbound.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released further details.
For additional photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Softball Team Remembers Teammate Killed In Pace Wreck
December 27, 2024
Tuesday night, December 17, Sofia Bennett-Tidwell of Molino threw her last pitch ever at a 2030 Show Stoppers practice. That pitch is pictured above.
The following morning, Sofia died in a horrific four-vehicle crash on Quintette Road in Pace.
Yesterday, her teammates placed a cross in your memory along Quintette Road at Tunnel Road.
“Her smile, her drive, her commitment, her athleticism, her heart, her attitude and her effort earned her a roster position on the team and in our hearts forever,” the Showstoppers said in a social media post. “As a teammate, she was second to none! She was the best cheerleader any team could ask for and she was the fiercest competitor. As a player she set the bar for anyone to want to follow.”
Show Stoppers players place the cross, topped by a helmet, Thursday. It’s surrounded by Christmas flowers and stuffed animals. While Sofia joined the team just over two years ago, about 10 of the players have played softball together for years.
Sofia’s teammates and coaches signed the back of the cross with personal messages.
“Flight high sweet girl.” “We will miss you so much sweet girl.” “Best smile ever.” — are just a few of the messages.
“This team is like nothing I’ve ever known as far as how close the players and parents are. We’re truly a family,” Stephani Pryon, a mom from the team told us. “They’re literally all our kids.”
The Florida Highway Patrol has not released a cause of the four-vehicle crash. FHP Traffic Homicide and FHP Commercial Vehicle units are continuing their investigation.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wanted Flomaton Man Arrested On Drug Charges After Allegedly Breaking Into Home While Fleeing Police
December 27, 2024
A wanted suspect fleeing from police was arrested on drug charges after allegedly breaking into a home in the Wawbeek community east of Atmore.
On December 23, Atmore Police Department officers responded to a residence in Canoe to assist an Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office deputy.
The deputy was investigating a domestic violence incident and had identified 25-year-old Hunter Leino of Flomaton as the offender. Leino also had multiple active misdemeanor warrants with the Atmore Police Department.
An Atmore Police investigator in an unmarked vehicle observed Leino as he was walking along Highway 31 in the Wawbeek area. Leino fled on foot when officers in marked vehicles started approaching him.
During an ensuing pursuit, Leino entered a residence and was taken into custody without further incident, APD said. Officers reported finding a glass pipe with methamphetamine residue when Leino was searched.
Leino was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and attempting to elude a law enforcement officer. Additional charges are pending from sheriff’s office for the original incident Canoe and burglary for allegedly entering the home in Wawbeek.
It’s Easy To Recycle Your Wrapping Paper And Boxes
December 27, 2024
You can “go green” with those piles of Christmas wrapping paper and boxes by recycling them in your weekly ECUA pickup.
Christmas wrapping paper, along with other household paper, plastics, steel and aluminum can be placed in your recycling container on your normal ECUA pickup day. Keep glitter, ribbons, and foil wrapping out of the recycling bin.
For complete details on which items are accepted — and which are not — try the Recycle Coach app.
ECUA offers curbside recycling for customers in the unincorporated areas of Escambia County. In addition, ECUA is offering free Christmas tree collections. ECUA customers in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties may place real wreaths and Christmas trees at the curb for pick-up with their regular yard waste collection. Customers are asked to remove all tinsel and decorations from their trees before placing them at the curb and to ensure that trees, or portions of trees, are no more than 6 feet in length. Trees can be placed at the curb with other yard trash and should not be placed in the recycling cans or green garbage containers.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Deputies Seek Christmas Day Attempted Homicide Suspect
December 27, 2024
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for an attempted homicide suspect.
Terrance James Franklin, 45, is wanted for an attempted homicide that occurred after an argument on Christmas Day in the 3000 block of Michael Drive. He allegedly shot someone in the chest and leg with a shotgun. The victim is expected to survive.
Franklin was last seen on foot, wearing a black shirt and purple shorts. ECSO said he should be considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Escambia County Again Seeking Applicants For Escambia Children’s Trust
December 27, 2024
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is once again seeking applications from county residents willing to serve on the Escambia Children’s Trust.
To be considered, applicants must submit the completed Escambia Children’s Trust application and questionnaire for gubernatorial appointments with an optional resume by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 9.
Resumes and both applications should be submitted via email to boardapply@myescambia.com or mailed to:
Jose Gochez, Program Manager
Escambia County Board of County Commissioners
221 Palafox Place, Suite 420
Pensacola, FL 32502
The Board of County Commissioners will nominate three applicants per vacancy to be submitted to the governor for review and potential appointment. Following the board’s selection, the county administrator will notify the Governor’s Appointments Office of the selected applicants and additional steps from the nominees may be required.
To be considered for the Escambia Children’s Trust, Florida Statute criteria include the requirement that nominees have been residents of Escambia County for the previous 24 months and are willing to submit an annual Statement of Financial Interests Form. Florida Statutes also require that gubernatorial appointments are representative of the demographic diversity of the County’s population.
Per Section 125.901, Florida Statutes, the Escambia Children’s Trust shall consist of 10 members, including:
The superintendent of schools;
- A school board member as appointed by the school board;
- The Department of Children and Families district administrator, or his or her designee;
- A judge assigned to juvenile cases as appointed by the chief judge;
- A c0ounty commissioner as appointed by the Board of County Commissioners; and
- Five members appointed by the governor from candidates nominated by the Board of County Commissioners to serve a four-year term.
In November 2020, 61% of participating voters in Escambia County supported the creation of the Children’s Trust to be funded by an increase in ad valorem taxes of up to a maximum of 0.5 mil. The Children’s Trust will provide early childhood education, safety, developmental, preventative, health, and well-being services, including after school and summer enrichment programs.
The ECT is responsible for assessing the needs of the children in the county and developing a strategic plan for addressing unmet needs, which must then be submitted to the Board. The ECT, like the county, must also go through the process of adopting a millage rate and budget in accordance with Florida’s Truth In Millage (TRIM) Act, and the CSC must submit an annual report to the Board as required by Florida law.
Ice Flyers Get Rewarding Win Against Macon Mayhem
December 27, 2024
by Bill Vilona, Ice Flyers correspondent
Houston, we have a winner.
After all that happened, the Ice Flyers had an ending they could savor.
Just 28 seconds into overtime, Houston Wilson broke free on a breakaway off the boards, made a deke, a fake and let the puck just slide underneath the goaltender to give the Ice Flyers a 4-3 win against the Macon Mayhem on the night after Christmas to thrill a crowd of 5,403 at the Pensacola Bay Center.
Wilson, a popular player a year ago, who rejoined the Ice Flyers on December 18, after starting the season with the Quad City Storm, was visible the entire game.
Early in Thursday’s game, Wilson just missed scoring on a shorthanded breakaway in the first period, then assisted on Jonathan Bartuccio-Pereira’s go-ahead goal in the second period.
His skate-off, game-winner, was one of the rare times this season the Ice Flyers had a breakaway light up a goal lamp.
Hallelujah, was the reaction from Ice Flyers coach Gary Graham.
“If you know anything about our team, and watch our games, the amount of breakaways we get over the course (this season) and don’t score… and if we score on those our record would look a lot different ,” he said. “It was exciting for me to finally score on a breakaway.”
The overtime win provided the Ice Flyers (6-14, 2 OT losses) their first consecutive wins of the season, following the 3-2 win against Huntsville on Dec. 21. The Ice Flyers have now gained points in their last three games, also a first this season.
They will have a rematch at Macon (7-13, 1 OT loss) on Friday, then will bus back in another all-night trip before facing the Peoria Rivermen on Saturday. All teams in the SPHL are playing three games in three days in a post-Christmas flurry.
“That’s just the way it is,” Graham said. “The (next level) will ramp up (Friday) with ECHL with a lot of teams playing six games in 10 nights. We just can’t get ahead of ourselves.”
Two of the Ice Flyers stars of the Huntsville win, Shane Bull and Sean Gulka, both received short-term ECHL contracts Thursday, forcing the Ice Flyers to again find replacements. They now have eight players signed before the season on ECHL teams.
That was another reason why the Ice Flyers performance and fortitude was noteworthy Thursday.
“It was a good team win,” Graham said. “For us, it’s more about what we have to do to win games. We have to block shots, we have to finish checks, we have to do all these little things right to win games, and it’s good to do that and have success. That’s how you build a culture.”
The Ice Flyers were twice forced to kill a 5-on-3 Macon power play. The toughest occurred with just 3:05 left in regulation play when Sam Dabrowski was whistled for elbowing. Graham vehemently objected to the call and was hit was an unsportsmanlike penalty from the bench.
But the Ice Flyers defense shined in that situation, the same way they limited Macon to just a couple shots in a second period 5-on-3 penalty kill.
Graham obviously was not happy with how the game was officiated, but his players responded to the adversity.
“The guys really bought in to getting the kills,” he said. “We blocked shots, (goaltender) Clayser (Brody Claeys) was great and you need your goalie to be your best penalty killer, but those penalty killers really bailed me out for taking that extra one for yelling at the referee.”
Here’s a quick recap.
FIRST PERIOD
At midpoint of the first period, the teams had combined for four goals on 16 shots in a period that ended tied at 2-2.
Just 48 seconds into the game, the Ice Flyers scored first without actually shooting.
Newcomer Blake Tosto had a shot carom off his leg and skate boot as he was being checked and the puck went under Macon goaltender Bailey Brkin’s pads.
A lengthy replay review occurred in the penalty box area before referee Keith Grooms signaled the goal was official. Graham explained the review was to see if there was goaltender interference when Tosto stick got lifted up as the puck went underneath Brkin.
Macon tied the game just over a minute later, but Tosto then got his second goal immediately after a faceoff in the Mayhem zone. He rushed the net and flick a top-corner shot into the cage.
Macon tied the game on a wrist shot by Nicholas Aromatario with 10:43 left and that’s how it stayed until first intermission.
SECOND PERIOD
The Ice Flyers took a 3-2 lead into second intermission after Bartuccio-Pereira finished a perfect pass from Wilson at 7:22 into the period.
“(Wilson) started the season hurt in Quad City and when he got healthy, they had had a lot of their key guys in and he was a healthy scratch as a 10th forward.. Now, he’s getting an opportunity with a familiar organization,” Graham said.
“He’s got a palpable kind of swagger to him. He’s got that smile from ear to ear. He just brings that relentless energy and most importantly, he understands the fans. He understands what the Ice Flyers fans like, they like hustle, they like tenacity, they like guys that are hard to play against and he brings all that to the table.”
THIRD PERIOD
Less than seven minutes in, the Mayhem got the tying goal on a power play. It was a sequence that pulled Claeys out from the crease and the puck slid to Dan Winslow, who had a wide-open net to finish the play and tie the game.
The drama then ensued in the final three minutes as the Ice Flyers staved off the two-man disadvantage and sent the game to overtime.
GAME NOTABLES: It was Youth Jersey Giveaway Night. The first 1,500 children ages 12-under received a replica jersey of the one worn Friday night by the Ice Flyers. The jerseys were provided by the Ice Flyers Foundation.
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: Ice Flyers at Macon Mayhem
WHEN: Friday, 6 p.m. (CST)
ECFR Says McDavid Mobile Home Fire Was Sparked By Trash Fire; Firefighters Respond To Ascend
December 26, 2024
A fire that destroyed mobile home near McDavid Sunday afternoon was sparked by a nearby trash fire, according to Escambia County Fire Rescue. There are now 12 red bulbs on the wreath during “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign.
The fire in the 200 block of Cox Road, just west of Highway 29, was reported just before 4 p.m. The McDavid, Century, Cantonment and Walnut Hill stations of ECFR were dispatched to the fire.
Firefighters arrived to find a the mobile home, which was used for storage, well involved in fire. ECFR units worked quickly to prevent the flames from extending to the nearby mobile home and brought the situation under control by 4:21 p.m. The mobile home with heavy flames was a total loss while the nearby structure suffered minor damage.
ECFR conducted the investigation and determined a nearby trash fire extended to the mobile home. Following the mobile home fire, the eleventh red bulb was added to the wreath.
The tenth bulb was added following a residential fire on Saturday in the 8700 block of Doris Avenue. The fire damages were limited to the kitchen, but the occupants will be displaced until repairs are made. Escambia County EMS transported one occupant to an area hospital.
The 11th bulb was added when ECFR responded to a structure fire at Ascend Performance Materials. Heavy smoke and flames were visible upon arrival to the four-story industrial building with the company’s fire department already working the fire. [Read more...]
Pictured: Structure fires on Cox Road (above) Doris Avenue (inset) and Ascend Performance Materials. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Vote-By-Mail Ballots Mailed For 2025 Special Primary Election
December 26, 2024
Vote-by-mail ballots for the 2025 Special Primary Election on January 28 were recently mailed to domestic voters who have a request on file. Florida law requires the mailing of civilian ballots between 40 and 33 days prior to election day.
The State of Florida holds closed primary elections. The 2025 Special Primary Election is for Republican voters only. To check the status of your voter record, call (850) 595-3900 or visit EscambiaVotes.gov.
Vote by mail requests must be renewed for each election cycle, meaning all 2024 election cycle requests have expired. Voters wishing to vote by mail can submit their request by phone at (850) 595-3900 or by visiting EscambiaVotes.gov. The deadline to request a vote by mail ballot for the 2025 Special Primary Election is Thursday, January 16.