Homeowner Reportedly Opens Fire On Known Attackers In Bratt Assault
November 16, 2024
An investigation is continuing after shots were fired during a reported disturbance in Bratt.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s responded to a reported assault the 3400 block of West Highway near C.W. Caraway Road Thursday night where the homeowner told deputies that he had been attacked and severely beaten in his home by two individuals that he has personally known for many years.
“The victim stated that he defended himself by shooting his firearm at the men and that he may have struck one of the suspects with one of the rounds he fired in self-defense,” ECSO Sgt. Melony Peterson said.
She said deputies located several spent shell casings and a firearm but were unable to locate the suspects. Area hospitals were contacted, but none had treated a gunshot victim.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
FPL Seeks To Raise Bills For All Of 2025 To Cover Hurricane Costs; Here’s How Much
November 16, 2024
Florida Power & Light customers could soon see higher bills to cover the utility’s hurricane restoration costs.
FPL has asked the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) to approve a temporary surcharge on customer bills in 2025 to recover restoration costs after four hurricanes battered Florida in less than 14 months.
For FPL customers in Northwest Florida, the a typical bill for residential customers using 1,000 kwh would increase $8.07 from $135.38 to $143.45 each month of 2025 for a total of $96.84 . For FPL customers in the rest of Florida, that typical bill would increase $12.02 to $133.99.
The petition filed with the PSC seeks to recover restoration expenses for Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton, which ripped through Florida this year. It also seeks $150 million to replenish the company’s storm reserve, which was primarily depleted by Hurricane Idalia last year and then wiped out after Hurricane Debby in August. If approved by the PSC, the temporary surcharge would reimburse FPL about $1.2 billion.
Category 3 Idalia struck Florida in August 2023. This year, Category 1 Debby hit Florida in August, then Category 4 Helene and Category 3 Milton pounded the state less than two weeks apart in September and October. The four hurricanes caused more than 3 million combined outages to FPL customers with damaging winds, storm surge and – in the case of Milton – dozens of powerful, long-track tornadoes.
“FPL worked relentlessly to quickly restore power to our customers in the aftermath of each of these hurricanes,” FPL President and CEO Armando Pimentel said. “We’re mindful that customers pay these restoration costs, which is why we continue to invest in storm hardening and smart grid technology. This avoids many outages, speeds restoration and reduces restoration costs while helping customers bounce back faster, from getting kids back to school to getting Florida’s economy back up and running.”
Capt. Chandra Newman Assumes Command Of NAS Pensacola
November 16, 2024
Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola Commanding Officer Capt. Chandra “Mamasan” Newman assumed command of the “Cradle of Naval Aviation” from Capt. Terrence “Village” Shashaty Friday during an official ceremony at the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) onboard the installation.
Shashaty retired after the ceremony, completing a 26-year U.S. Navy career.
Shashaty, a native of Brooklyn, New York, earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics in 1998 from the U.S. Naval Academy. He was selected as one of four U.S. officers to enroll in the Naval Staff College, the U.S. Naval War College’s program for mid-grade international naval officers representing 39 countries from across the globe, where he earned a Master of Arts in
National Security and Strategic Studies.
Designated a Naval Aviator in October 2000, Shashaty completed four operational carrier deployments flying the EA-6B Prowler and oversaw the transition to the the Indo-Pacific area.
Newman, a native of Inverness, Florida, received her wings of gold in August 2004, serving with Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) squadrons. She most recently served as the Commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF) Leadership, Education, Growth, Advocacy, Culture, and Youth Outreach (LEGACY) director.
NAS Pensacola, referred to as the “Cradle of Naval Aviation,” is designed to support operational and training missions of tenant commands, including the Naval Aviation Technical Training Center (NATTC); Naval Aviation Schools Command (NASC); the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT); Marine Aviation Training Support Groups (MATSG) 21 and 23 and serves as the headquarters for Naval Education and Training Command (NETC).
U.S. Navy photo by Garrett Dipuma for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Falls To Nease In Playoff Opener (With Photo Gallery)
November 16, 2024
The No 8 Tate Aggies fell to the No. 1 Nease Panthers 42-14 Friday night in the Region 1-6A quarterfinals Friday night in Ponte Vedra, Florida.
It was the first playoff appearance for Tate since 2020.
With a season ending at 7-4, 2024 was the best for the Aggies since they also went 7-4 in 2017.
For a photo gallery, click here.
In other Region 1-6A quarterfinal action Friday night, Pace defeated Oviedo 49-21. The Patriots will travel to Buchholz in Gainesville next Friday night.
NorthEscamia.com photos by James Vernacotola, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary School Names Students Of The Month
November 16, 2024
Byrneville Elementary School recently named their October Students of the Month.
They are:
- Kindergarten: Price Miller and AJ Sutton
- 1st Grade: Evelyn Gould and Jani’la Durant
- 2nd Grade: Kenzie Burkett and Wykel Thomas
- 3rd Grade: Tylaisa Dees and Kase Calloway
- 4th Grade: Grace McKenna and Veronica Walker
- 5th Grade: Lucas Jordan and Gemma Roberson
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
High School Football Playoffs Scoreboard
November 16, 2024
FLORIDA
REGION 1-6A
- Pace 49, Oviedo 21
- Nease 42, Tate 14 [Story, photos...]
REGION 1-4A
- Escambia 29, Riverside 28
- Ed White 26, Pine Forest 13
REGION 1-2A
- Walton 28, Pensacola Catholic 24
RURAL
- Fort White 23, Jay 2
ALABAMA
4A
- Fairfield 23, W.S. Neal 22
3A
- T.R. Miller 21, Trinity 7
Pictured: The Tate Aggies fell to Nease Friday night. NorthEscamia.com photos by James Vernacotola, click to enlarge.
Cat Country 98.7 Is The 2024 CMA Radio Station Of The Year (With Gallery)
November 15, 2024
Next week, Cat Country 98.7 will receive the 2024 Country Music Association (CMA) Radio Station of the Year Award in Nashville. This is the third time the station has won this prestigious CMA Station of the Year award, having previously won in 2017 and 2019.
And that’s a big deal.
The CMA Radio Station of the Year Award is based on not only how they sound, but also ratings and community involvement.
This week, NorthEscambia.com sat in-studio with Brent, Mel, and Jordan during The Cat Park Morning Show to learn a little more about what makes the locally owned station deserving of the national award.
For a photo gallery, click here.
“What a what a treat to be recognized for serving our community at a national level,” Brent Lane said.
“It never gets old to be recognized by other professionals for the hard work that we put in all year round,” Mel added. “So, on that level, knowing that people that voted on this award, recognize what we try to strive to do every day in our community and give back. And then also sharing the country music story but we weave those two together and be recognized for that is huge.”
If there is a local community event, or a community need in the Pensacola metro, adds are you’ll find Cat Country involved. And that’s a point of pride for Brent and Mel.
“It’s a success through service model. We’re lucky to be locally owned and in doing the expectation is that we’re going to be community helpers. So, every opportunity that there is to give back, we have continued to give back,” Brent said.
“In our industry, it is rare that we are live and local, and so we live here. We are your neighbors,” Mel added. “We are experiencing everything that our community members are experiencing. So, we’re here; we’re not just some syndicated voice that has no idea what your town and your community is like.
“We actually show up, and we live next door to you. We can help you, and that’s I think super important for people to know — that we’re here to help them, no matter what whether it’s, hey, you’re having a lonely day and we’re here, you can make that phone call, or it’s a hurricane relief drive, or any of those type of events. We want to make sure we’re there, and we’re not only just a radio show, but we’re your friends and we’re your neighbors too.” she said.
This week, Pensacola has faced tremendous traffic problems thanks to CSX railroad crossing closures, with very little information made available in advance by the company. During our visit, there was a big focus on community-sourcing crossing closure information in order to share and make the morning community a little bit easier for listeners.
“What’s happening this morning with the railroad tracks is a major source of frustration for local drivers, and so to be able to talk about that in real time and give back is, is always continuing to double down on what we say we do which is be live, local and supportive,” Brent said. “so, whether it’s the railroad tracks being down, or a CSX train that goes off the tracks, or whatever that looks like to be able to have an opportunity to stand in front of you, and then be good stewards of the goodwill that you might give.”
And there are no plans to change that community focus anytime soon.
“As far as what we do in the morning, we’re going to continue to do. What you hear, what we are trying to do, Brent and Mel will be your morning friends,” Brent said. The, with a laugh, adding “And Jordan is your morning jester of traffic.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
WYCT, better known as Cat Country 98.7, is locally owned by Dave and Mary Hoxeng.
The winners of the 58th Annual CMA Awards will be honored during a Wednesday, November 20 ABC telecast (to be aired locally on WEAR 3) from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The CMA Awards show will also be available on Hulu beginning Thursday, November 21.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gonzalez Man Gets Two Life Sentences For Abusing Children
November 15, 2024
Thursday, a Gonzalez man was sentenced to two life sentences for sexually abusing children over a four-year period.
Zachary Joseph Staples, 31, was sentenced to serve two consecutive life sentences in state prison and was designated as a sexual predator by Circuit Court Judge John Simon. Staples was sentenced after entering a plea straight up to the court on three counts of sexual battery by a person in familial authority and one count of promoting sexual performance by a child.
The investigation started after authorities received a report Staples had inappropriately touched a minor child that was in his custody. During the investigation, additional victims were discovered, and charges were filed for abuse that place between 2016 and 2020.
“This defendant is the ultimate predator that preys on vulnerable victims. A life sentence is more than appropriate for the heinous and atrocious acts perpetrated by this defendant,” prosecuting attorney Carrie Gilmer said.
ECUA Employee Golf Tournament Raises $10K For Children’s Hospital
November 15, 2024
The recent ECUA Employees’ Golf Tournament raised $10,0000 for the Studer Family Children’s Hospital.
Since 1999, the annual golf tournament has raised a total of $219,500 for the children’s hospital. There were 22 teams and 85 golfers, including 23 ECUA employees that took part in the tournament at the Scenic Hills Country Club. The tournament will return on October 17, 2025.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Creative Painting: Squeegee Art Saturday At Century Library
November 15, 2024
Squeegee Art is coming to the Century Branch Library Saturday morning.
The library will host a free creative painting session using squeegees for brushes from 11 a.m. until noon.
The Century library is located at 7991 North Century Boulevard.