Working After Midnight, Escambia BOCC Postpones Action On OLF-8 Sale
December 13, 2024
After meetings that started at 9 a.m. Thursday and ended after midnight, the Escambia County Commission did not take any action on the latest multi-million dollar offers for the county-owned OLF-8 property on Nine Mile Road.
The day began with three offers on the table ranging from $30 to $42.5 million for the entirety of the 540-acre parcel.
After a morning agenda review meeting and an evening meeting that started at 4:30 p.m., the discussion at midnight evolved into different, conflicting motions that eventually died without a second or were withdrew.
Commissioner Steven Barry made a motion that did not receive a second to enter into negotiations with TRI-W Associates, while Commissioner Steve Stroberger made a motion to negotiate with Fred Hemmer and Rob Ahrens of Beulah Town Center LLC. Stroberger’s motion did not come to a vote and was withdrawn.
“I don’t like to vote at the midnight hour for something that significant,” Commissioner Lumon May said just before midnight. “You want me to make this decision at midnight when we have been at this for about 15 hours.”
“I want to take a breather,” May said in the meeting, which adjourned at 12:15 a.m. Friday.
“It’s a task that I feel is almost impossible,” County Attorney Alison Rogers said about negotiating with potential buys without definite parameters like price, following a master plan, and terms.
The commission will continue their OLF-8 discussions in January.
Below: The OLF-8 property on Nine Mile Road. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Jones Promoted To Mill Manager At International Paper
December 13, 2024
Travis Jones has been promoted to mill manager of International Paper’s Pensacola Containerboard Mill in Cantonment In his new position, Jones will assume overall responsibility for safety, people engagement, commercial and operational excellence and community stewardship at the Pensacola Mill.
Most recently, Jones has been the operations manager and the maintenance and engineering manager at the Pensacola Mill. Jones joined International Paper in 2005 in global technology and has held a variety of roles of increasing responsibility at the Pensacola and Rome, Georgia mills.
“Having been part of this team for some time, I am deeply connected to our team at the Pensacola Mill,” Jones said. “This new role is an exciting opportunity, and I look forward to contributing to our continued success and growth.”
In a related move, Pensacola Mill Manager Hunter Morris has been promoted to director of manufacturing, containerboard. In his new leadership role, Morris will have oversight of five containerboard mills. Morris and his family will be relocating to the Memphis, Tennessee, area.
Escambia Man Gets 30 Years For Child Porn
December 13, 2024
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison followed by 30 years of sex offender probation.
Christopher Curtis Luckie (pictured left) was also designated a Sexual Offender by Circuit Court Judge Coleman Robinson.
On July 12, 2023, a search warrant was executed at a residence at 6450 Guilford Drive after law enforcement received tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that images of child pornography were being
downloaded at that location.
A USB thumb located in Christopher Luckie’s room and a laptop belonging to his son, Ethan Christopher Luckie, were seized and each contained videos or images of child porn, according to a police report. Authorities said the files depicted child porn, sexual battery involving a child, sadomasochistic abuse of a child, and victims under the age of five.
After being interviewed by law enforcement, Christopher Curtis Luckie admitted to downloading the child pornography, according to prosecutors.
Christopher Curtis Luckie was facing up to 300 years in prison on 60 child counts, but his plea agreement to 30 courts requires him to testify again his now 24-year-old son Ethan Christopher Luckie.
According to the plea agreement, “Defendant will testify truthfully at any future court proceeds involving the codefendant”.
Ethan Luckie’s case is still in the court system. He is charged with 30 counts of child porn possession and two counts of possessing animal sex activity.
Century Christmas Parade Rescheduled To December 21
December 13, 2024
The Century Christmas Parade that was scheduled for Friday night, December 13 has been rescheduled for Saturday, December 21 at 11 a.m.
The Century Christmas Parade will begin at PSC, 440 East Hecker Road and end at Anthony Pleasant Park. At 11 a.m. Saturday, it will travel onto East Hecker to Mayo Street to Front Street, to Jefferson Avenue to Pond Street to the Jefferson Avenue Loop. The parade will loop back around to the corner of Pond and Jefferson, turning on Jefferson to Highway 4 before ending at Anthony Pleasant Park.
Flomaton Hurricane Head Coach Doug Vickery Retiring After 19 Years
December 13, 2024
Longtime Flomaton High School head football coach Doug Vickery has announced that he retiring from coaching in the state of Alabama.
Vickery has been the head coach for the Hurricanes for 19 years. During those 19 years, Vickery led the Hurricanes to their first-ever state championship in 2018, and there have been five quarterfinal appearances. Three of his boys played football for Flomaton during his tenure.
Vickery has not said will be next for him.
Above and below: Flomaton head coach Doug Vickery. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge. Pictured bottom two photos: The Flomaton Hurricanes and Vickery celebrate their first ever state championship. Trent Penny/Anniston Star for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Alabama Man Charged With Drug Trafficking After Fleeing Traffic Stop In Century
December 13, 2024
A Castleberry, Alabama, man that fled from deputies after a traffic stop in Century is behind bars.
Nykelle Lee Johnson, 44, was charged with possession of drugs with the intent to sell, trafficking of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, driving with a suspended license, and resisting an officer.
At about 7:15 p.m., the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on Johnson’s vehicle on North Century Boulevard near East Highway 4. They discovered Johnson was driving with a suspended license. Johnson fled from deputies but was detained a short time later.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, deputies located a brown paper bag in Johnson’s possession that contained over 40 grams of methamphetamine, crack cocaine, other narcotics, and marijuana.
Tate High’s Tristen Showalter Signs To Play Softball At Reid State
December 13, 2024
Tate High School’s Tristen Showalter signed Thursday to play softball with the Reid State Lions. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Aggravated Battery Of A Woman Near Bratt
December 12, 2024
An Atmore man has been charged with assaulting a woman near Bratt before stealing her phone.
Bryson Lane Bowen, 24, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal mischief, battery, and theft.
The victim described Bowen as her “on again off again” boyfriend, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He allegedly called her from a bridge on Still Road near Bratt where he held an open knife and demanded that she open the truck of the car before he slammed his head into the trunk of the vehicle, causing damage. The victim ran, but he chased her and grabbed her in a bear hug, according to an arrest report. She ran to her car to drive away, and Bowen got into the passenger seat where he tried to take her phone and snatched the steering wheel several times, the report continues.
Deputies said she stopped the car in the area of Highway 99 and Highway 164 where she ran away. Bowen fled, she said, taking her phone from the vehicle.
The incident happened on November 22, and a warrant was issued for Bowen when deputies were unable to locate him. He was arrested this week and booked into the Escambia County Jail where he remained Thursday morning with bond set at $3,000.
DeSantis Gives State Employees Three Extra Days Off For The Holidays
December 12, 2024
Florida Gov. Ron Desantis has announce that state employees will get three extra days off for the holidays. In addition to Christmas Day and New Years Day—state offices will also be closed on December 23, December 24, and December 31.
“Florida is in great shape, and we want to reward our state employees,” DeSantis said. “After a full year—including three costly hurricanes—we hope these extra days off allow for state workers to spend more time with their families and loved ones during this holiday season.”
The office closures on December 23rd, December 24th, and December 31st are in addition to regular office closures on December 25th and January 1st.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Driver’s License, Tag, Tax Collector Services Next Week In Century
December 12, 2024
Driver’s license and other tax collector services will be available in Century next week.
The Escambia County Tax Collector will be at the:
- Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century on Thursday, December 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Mobile Licensing and Identification Office (MILO) is a fully functional tax collector office on wheels, offering a range of services. The mobile unit provides a convenient method to renew a driver license, obtain a replacement driver license, conversion/reciprocation of out-of-state license, change a name or address on a current driver license or identification card, and get a first-time identification card. In addition to licensing services, the mobile unit also provides an opportunity to renew or replace a vehicle registration, receive a parking placard, transfer a title, pay property taxes, and apply for a business tax receipt. Written and driving tests are not available from the MILO unit.
The Billy G. Courthouse is at 7500 North Century Boulevard.
Pictured: The Escambia Tax Collector’s MILO at the Walnut Hill Community Center earlier this year. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.