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.
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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.
Escambia Emergency Dispatchers Celebrate Decades Of Service
December 12, 2024
Escambia County Emergency Communications celebrated several employee milestones in 2024, recognizing eight employees’ years of service to the county.
30 Years of Service
- Melanie McGlothren
- David Milliron
- Sandra Zani
20 Years of Service
- Christy Buscaino
- Shanae Dunn
- Robin Payne
10 Years of Service
- Heather Bell
- Jennifer Hurd
“I am truly thankful for each of these individuals,” Emergency Communications Chief Andrew Hamilton said. “Not only are they exceptional employees, but they are also wonderful people who genuinely care about their team members, first responders and the community. They serve admirably with little recognition and have made countless impacts on the lives of others. The full extent of their work may never be known, but their efforts have touched countless lives and truly make a difference.”
The emergency dispatchers combined gave over 170 years of serving Escambia County as the first voice on-scene.
Escambia County Program That Provides Bus Or Plane Tickets To Get Homeless Out Reaches Milestone
December 12, 2024
An Escambia County program that offers transportation assistance to individuals experiencing homelessness who are seeking to reunite with their family, friends, or other support networks has reached a milestone.
The voluntary “Real Change Project Reconnect” has now assisted 100 individuals since it was launched in February with a goal of reducing homelessness in Escambia County and offering resources to those wanting to travel to locations where they have a better support system to help them get back on their feet.
Joseph “J.J.” Johns, Jr. was the 100th person to receive assistance through Project Reconnect, using the program to get a bus ticket to San Antonio, Texas in hopes of a fresh start. Johns said he has experienced homelessness the entire year he’s been in Pensacola, and he is looking forward to new opportunities in Texas.
“I’m just hoping for employment and somewhere I can basically start over and get a secure place to live,” said Johns, who has a shelter waiting for him in San Antonio. “The goal is to find employment opportunities where I can work a job and save money and find a place to live, and hopefully a career.”
Without the Project Reconnect program, Johns said there is no way he’d be able to afford the bus ticket to San Antonio.
“Without this, I’d be out there in the rain,” Johns said. “This would not be anything I could do on my own.”
Real Change Project Reconnect is funded by Escambia County and facilitated by Ministry Village at Olive, Inc. Through the program, eligible individuals and families are provided with a bus or plane ticket to their chosen destination, provided they can demonstrate that family, a job, or support network is in place for them.
Kathleen Schuster, who manages applications for Project Reconnect as the Director of Tender Hearts Caring Hands at Ministry Village, said she’s excited about the number of people who have been helped through the program.
I think it’s fantastic, especially giving them the opportunity to go home,” Schuster said. “Because they’re just stuck. Most of them are stuck. If they have the money to buy a bus ticket, they probably need that money more just to survive on the streets. So this gives them the opportunity to get where they need to go.”
Ministry Village at Olive also provides participants a meal, hot shower, and a snack bag to take with them on their trip.
Schuster emphasized that the goal of the program isn’t to remove people who are experiencing homelessness in the area, but to help them connect with opportunities and resources.
“We’re trying to get them back to a place where they can have a fresh start,” Schuster said. “We know where they’re going, they’ve been contacted, so all of these people aren’t just being sent somewhere to be in the same situation they’re in now. It’s a step up.”
Drayton Smith, Executive Director of Ministry Village at Olive, added that some individuals end up stuck in an area they don’t want to be through no fault of their own, often due to empty promises for jobs or housing.
“The people that are coming want to do better for themselves,” Smith said. “They’re looking for a helping hand — not a hand out, but a hand up.”
Currently, approximately $17,382 of the $30,000 allocated for the program has been spent for the 100 individuals who have received assistance so far. Escambia County Governmental Liaison Liz Kissel, who manages the program for the county, said there are plans to continue funding the program due to its success.
The following individuals and families may be eligible for Real Change Project Reconnect:
- Individuals and families seeking family reunification and housing with their family or other support system.
- Individuals and families who have identified employment and need only short-term social service support to facilitate their transition to the arrival community.
- Individuals and families who have affordable permanent housing or other shelter options awaiting them in a community where they have family or social supports.
Tate High’s Blakely Campbell Signs To Play Softball At University of Mobile
December 12, 2024
Tate High School’s Blakely Campbell signed Wednesday to play softball for the University of Mobile Rams. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Gets 20 Years For 2022 DUI Crash That Killed Escambia County Deputy
December 11, 2024
Wednesday, a man was sentenced to 20 years in state prison for he fatal DUI crash that claimed the life of an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy in October 2022.
Tristen Cole Parker pleaded guilty last month to DUI manslaughter, driving with a suspended license and DUI causing bodily harm. There was no plea deal, and he received the maximum sentence. His sentence included 15 years for the DUI manslaughter followed consecutively by five years for DUI causing serious bodily injury for a total of 20 years.
Parker failed to stop at a stop sign, and his bucket truck struck an oncoming silver Jeep driven by the deputy.
Master Deputy Kevin Ray of Cantonment and his 15-year-old daughter Lauren were traveling from Troy, Alabama, when the crash occurred on Highway 85 just east of Laurel Hill, Florida, at 8:40 p.m. on October 15, 2022.
Ray was pronounced deceased at the scene and his daughter was airlifted to an area hospital. The 2012 white Dodge bucket truck driven by Parker overturned multiple times, destroying utility poles before coming to rest in a field in the southwest corner of the intersection.
“There were beer cans near the passenger door of the Dodge truck that were in the pickup and thrown while overturning,” the investigating trooper wrote in an arrest report obtained by NorthEscambia.com.
“When the witness rolled up on the crash, Tristen Cole Parker had self-extricated from his vehicle but identified himself as the sole occupant and operator of the suspect vehicle,” the report states. “While being treated on scene by Okaloosa County Fireman Paramedic (redacted), Tristen Cole Parker admitted to consuming 3 to 4 alcohol beverages prior to the collision. (The paramedic) also smelled an odor of alcohol coming from Tristan Cole Parker while he was speaking.”
Parker was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
“During conversation with Tristen Cole Parker, Mr. Parker spontaneously uttered to (the trooper) that he had 2 or 3 ‘beers’ prior to the collision’,” the report continues. Despite initial consent for a voluntary blood draw, Parker refused to provide the blood sample when hospital staff arrived in his room.
An FHP traffic homicide investigator also noted that Parker had bulged eyes, slurred speech, a dry mouth, thick tongue, flushed face and smelled of alcohol in the emergency room. The investigator said Parker had labored breathing, slow deliberate movements and repeated himself.
FHP said Parker’s certified driving record from Texas showed multiple convictions for driving with suspended license in that state.
Ray had been a member of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office family for over 20 years. He had been assigned to courthouse security for over a decade.
Hattie Marie McGary, Who Captured The Soul Of Cantonment, Passes Away
December 11, 2024
The community is mourning the loss of a special lady that captured the soul of Cantonment.
Hattie Marie McGary, the owner of the soul food restaurant Harrie Marie’s Cafe has passed away. She was 80.
Hattie, who loved her family and community, loved sharing her lifelong love of cooking. She spent 36 years working for the Escambia County School Food Services Department, starting as a dishwasher in 1971. But then a manager realized Hattie could cook, and that was what she did for the kids for 30 years until her retirement as an assistant manager.
Hattie Marie’s Cafe on Louis Street was all about community, serving soul food prepared with an extra sprinkling of love.
Beef tips, beef brisket, smoked ribs and chicken, fried and smothered pork chops, fried and baked chicken, collard greens, green beans, cornbread dressing, yams, mac and cheese, rice, mash potatoes, and potato salad were on the menu last Sunday. And what’s Sunday dinner without dessert? That was pound cake, strawberry shortcake, and sweet potato pie. All served with the heart and soul of Hattie Marie McGary.
Funeral services have not yet been announced. As for the cafe, they will be closed for a few weeks with planned reopening on Sunday, January 5.