Teen Charged In Shooting At Large Chumuckla Bonfire Gathering
December 4, 2024
A suspect has been charged in connection with a shooting last Friday at a large gathering in a field near Chumuckla.
Terez Naikeem Toyens, 18, was charged with felony aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail without bond.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported disturbance on Friday near the 1900 block of Sid Hayes Road in Chumuckla. Deputies arrived at an open field where a large gathering, estimated to include approximately 150 young adults and adolescents, had taken place around a bonfire earlier in the evening.
When deputies arrived, only a few witnesses remained on the scene. Those individuals reported that an argument among a group at the gathering had escalated, culminating in gunfire. A 20-year-old male was struck in the abdomen by one of the shots. Deputies provided immediate care to the victim while awaiting EMS, which transported him to a local hospital for further treatment.
While en route to the scene, a responding deputy’s patrol car was struck by a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. The driver lost control, causing a collision with the deputy’s patrol vehicle. Following the crash, three occupants of the suspect vehicle fled on foot. Through witness interviews, deputies and detectives identified one of the fleeing individuals as Toyens, the alleged shooter.
The victim is expected to fully recover, according to SRSO.
Two Escambia County Fires Add Two Red Bulbs To Fire Safety Wreath
December 4, 2024
Escambia County Fire Rescue placed the first two red bulbs on the wreath in 2024 following residential structure fires on Monday evening and Tuesday morning.
The first fire was at 8:30 p.m. Monday in the 7500 block of Pontiac Drive. Flames were showing when firefighters arrived, and the home was a total loss. ECFR rescue determined the first was caused by improper fireplace venting.
At 1:56 a.m. Tuesday, fire destroyed a mobile home in the 5400 block of Wales Avenue (pictured above). The cause is still under investigation.
There were no injuries in either fire.
The “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign is a collaborative initiative with the City of Pensacola to promote fire safety during the month of December. During the month-long campaign. Five-foot wreaths are on display at locations that included 21 county fire stations. Each time firefighters respond to a residential or commercial structure fire with damage, a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by fires in residential and commercial buildings.
Jubilee Church To Host 50,000 Pound Food Distribution Saturday
December 4, 2024
Jubilee Church will host a 50,000 pound drive-thru food distribution Saturday. The church is located at 5910 North W Street.
“Our church knows that this time of year creates financial strain on families. With food prices soaring and money being spent on Christmas, we are honored to give back to those in need in our local community,” said Lead Pastor Tim Fox of Jubilee Church.
Families will pick up their food between 9 a.m. and noon (or while supplies last) while staying in their cars. The drive-thru will be in the parking lot of the church. For more information, call (850) 474-9484.
File photo.
UWF Professor Awarded $420K Grant To Fund Alzheimer’s Research
December 4, 2024
Dr. Rodney Guttmann, a biology professor in UWF’s Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering, has been awarded his second major National Institute of Health R15 grant, marking a significant milestone in his ongoing research on early detection of Alzheimer’s disease.
The three-year, $420,000 renewal grant awarded earlier this fall brings the total funding to $860,000 over six years, allowing Guttmann and students to continue cutting-edge research into blood-based biomarkers for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. His research aims to identify specific biomarkers that signal the onset of the disease, potentially enabling earlier and more accurate diagnoses that could lead to better patient outcomes.
“This ongoing project reinforces the University of West Florida’s commitment to advancing biomedical research and providing students with unique educational opportunities that prepare them for future careers in science and medicine,” Guttmann said.
This grant supports hands-on research experiences for undergraduate students, offering them the opportunity to engage in world-class scientific investigation in Guttmann’s lab. The experience has launched students into prestigious doctoral programs and made them competitive in their careers.
“In Dr. Guttmann’s lab I discovered my passion for research and grew exponentially as a scientist,” said Allie Linkous ’24, a post-baccalaureate researcher at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. “I switched career paths and gathered the skills to move towards my future career as a research scientist. I gained exposure to a variety of techniques and projects. My time with Dr. Guttmann shaped me into the scientist I am today and prepared me for future opportunities.”
Guttmann’s ongoing work on blood-based biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease, a major focus for NIH and global researchers, addresses the urgent need to identify individuals at risk earlier in the disease process. Early detection is critical for the development of effective interventions and treatments to prevent or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.
Finals Scores: Tate And Northview Basketball, Soccer
December 4, 2024
Here are high school scores from Monday and Tuesday for both basketball and soccer:
BASKETBALL
- Boys
- Tate 60, West Florida 48
- Northview 46, L.E.A.D. Academy 45 (Monday)
- Girls
- Escambia 55, Northview 28
- Milton 47, Tate 14 (Monday)
SOCCER
- Boys
- Washington 8, Tate 0
- Girls
- Tate 7, West Florida 0 (Monday)
Grand Opening Date Set For Escambia County’s First Wawa Store; Four More Planned
December 4, 2024
Wawa has announced a grant opening date for their first location in Escambia County.
The new WaWa store at Ransley Station on Pine Forest Road just north of I-10 will open at 8 a.m. on Thursday, December 19 with a ribbon cutting to follow at 8:30 a.m.
“We are excited to end 2024 with marking a significant milestone of opening our first store in Pensacola to fulfill lives of our friends and neighbors,” said Joe Collins, director of store operations for Wawa. “We look forward to bringing our unique brand of fresh food, beverages and convenience to the Panhandle to further our commitment to providing our new friends and neighbors with not only a new level of convenience but a strong, committed community partner.”
Four Wawa stores are currently planned for Escambia County:
1. Nine Mile Road, Beulah
Plans were approved were October 2023 for a 6,119 square feet location at the corner of Beulah Road and Nine Mile Road. Work is currently underway on the 17.36 acre parcel across Nine Mile Road from Publix.
2. Highway 98
A Wawa store was approved by the county in May for 9262 West Highway 98 at Blue Angel Parkway.
3. North Davis Highway
The Escambia County Development Review Committee approved plan in June for another planned WaWas at 8503 North Davis Highway, near Johnson Avenue and HCA West Florida Hospital.
4. Pensacola Boulevard
A WaWa is planned for 6650 Pensacola Boulevard near W Street.
Pictured: The groundbreaking for the new WaWa on Pine Forest Road near I-10 was held in April. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Beulah Middle School Students Placed On ‘Hold’ Tuesday Afternoon
December 3, 2024
Beulah Middle School students were placed on a “hold” earlier this afternoon.
According to Cody Strother, spokesman for Escambia County Public Schools, a student left the building, so the remainder of the students were placed on a hold while they looked for the missing student. A hold is not a lockdown — with a hold there is just limited student movement within the building.
Beulah Middle has since resolved the situation and returned to normal operations.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Century Man Charged With Strangling His Wife
December 3, 2024
A Century man has been charged with strangling his wife.
William Lee Reed, 58, was charged with felony domestic battery by strangulation and misdemeanor battery. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $7,500.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that Reed, her live-in husband, became involved in an altercation. The disagreement started when Reed began yelling at her for not doing household chores, according to an arrest report, before he grabbed her by the neck and began strangling her. She left the home to attend church, and that’s where she called deputies, the report continues.
Deputies noted in their report that the victim had marks on both sides of her neck and a mark on her right wrist and a large bruise with swelling on her right leg just below the knee. Reed was apprehended at the couple’s residence without incident.
Reed told deputies that the couple’s altercatiohn was only verbal. He stated that he was angry that his wife was going to attend church without first doing the household chores, and that she jumped on him and threw a Bible at his head, according to the report.
Highway 29 Crash Claims Life Of 20-Year Old Cantonment Motorcyclist
December 3, 2024
A Cantonment motorcyclist was killed in a Highway 29 crash Monday afternoon.
The motorcycle and a SUV collided about 3:10 p.m. on Highway 29 at North Tate School Road, near Winn Dixie. The 20-year-old male motorcyclist was pronounced deceased on the scene by Escambia County EMS. The driver of the SUV, a 72-year-old Cantonment woman, was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital with serious injuries.
FHP said the motorcycle was traveling north on Highway 29 when it collided with the SUV that was crossing the roadway.
The SUV then collided with a sedan that stopped at the stop sign on North Tate School Road. The driver of the sedan, a 59-year-old Molino woman, was not injured.
The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing their investigation and has not yet released the cause of the crash. The Cantonment and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
The crash closed northbound Highway 29 for several hours for the investigation.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Santa Visiting Libraries Across Escambia County
December 3, 2024
Santa Claus will be visiting West Florida Library locations throughout Escambia County this month for pictures and fun activities.
The schedule, listed by library location, is as follows:
Century Library
- Tuesday, December 10, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Molino Library
- Thursday, December 19, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Bellview Library
- Tuesday, December 17, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Tryon Library
- Tuesday, December 10, 3–4 p.m.
- Thursday, December 19, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Pensacola Library
- Wednesday, December 18, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
- Saturday, December 21, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
Southwest Library
- Friday, December 20, 4:30–5:30 p.m.
Westside Library
- Thursday, December 12, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
