Get Your Child Vaccinated: Special Clinics Planned For Ensley, Molino
July 23, 2015
Children entering Escambia County schools next month must be up-to-date on their vaccinations, including a tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine for all students entering the seventh grade.
Children may be vaccinated at their physician’s office or at FDOH-Escambia’s Immunizations Clinic. Parents of children needing school-required vaccinations are being urged not to wait in order to ensure that their child may be vaccinated prior to the start of school.
FDOH-Escambia’s Immunizations Clinic is open Monday through Friday at 1295 Fairfield Drive in Pensacola. Parents wishing to have their child vaccinated at FDOH-Escambia’s Immunizations Clinic need to make an appointment. Appointments fill quickly and are same-day only.
Special clinics are also being held in additional locations, as follows:
Northside (Ensley) 8390 North Palafox
- walk-in clinic on Thursdays from 8:00a.m. until 3:30p.m. (now through August 3, 2015).
- same-day appointments, Monday through Friday from August 10 through August 21, 2015.
Molino 3470 Highway 29 North
- same-day appointments, Monday through Friday from August 10 through August 21, 2015.
To schedule an appointment, call (850) 595-6554.
NWE Flag Football Tourney, Registration Event Moved To Northview
July 23, 2015
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Northwest Escambia Flag Football Tournament and Registration Event scheduled for this Saturday has been moved from Ernest Ward Middle School to the practice football field at Northview High School.
The first game, and registration NWE Football and Cheerleading, will begin at 8:30 a.m.
Local Brothers Get Prison Time On Burglary, Theft Convictions
July 22, 2015
Two brothers, both former North Escambia residents, were sentenced to state prison Tuesday after previously being convicted on multiple burglary and theft related charges in Santa Rosa County.
Circuit Judge John Simon sentenced Shawn Demontre Cooler to 25 years in state prison to be followed by five years probation and sentenced Jeremiah Cooler to 10 years in state prison to be followed by 10 years probation.
Shawn Cooler, 20, was convicted of burglary while armed with a firearm, two counts of grand theft of a firearm, grand theft and criminal mischief. His brother, Jeremiah Cooler, age 21 of Molino, was convicted of grand theft of a firearm and petit theft. Shawn Cooler faced a maximum penalty of life in prison, while Jeremiah Cooler faced a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
On January 14, 2014, an eyewitness saw two subjects outside a home on the 7000 block of Gordon Evans Road in Navarre. Once Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s deputies arrived, it was discovered that the front door was kicked in and two firearms, electronic items, and several pieces of jewelry were stolen. A sheriff’s deputy witnessed Shawn Cooler driving towards Pensacola after the burglary.
Deputies were unable to stop the defendant because the car engaged in a high-speed pursuit. The car and the subjects were found at the Red Roof Inn on Davis Highway by Escambia County deputies the next day. Jeremiah Cooler was apprehended after throwing a backpack with items stolen from the burglary in a dumpster. Shawn Cooler fled on foot after being approached by deputies.
The brothers were previously convicted on April 14, 2015, by a Santa Rosa County Jury on several other charges. Shawn Cooler was convicted of grand theft, and Jeremiah Cooler was convicted of three counts of grand theft of a firearm. The two defendants were found guilty after being found in possession of three stolen firearms and electronics that were taken from a residence located on the 4400 block of Leavins Street in Milton on January 14, 2014.
At the time of the offenses, Shawn Cooler was on probation for burglary, grand theft and criminal mischief. Those charges stemmed from an incident on June 13, 2012, when an Escambia County home was burglarized after the back door was kicked in. A handgun, jewelry and a television were taken in that burglary. On June 18, 2014, Shawn Cooler was found guilty of violating that probation and sentenced to 30 months in state prison prison.
Highway 97 Traffic Detoured Onto Temporary Bridge In Walnut Hill
July 22, 2015
Traffic on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill was transitioned to a temporary roadway and bridge on Tuesday. It’s part of the replacement of a 75-year old Highway 97 bridge over Little Pine Barren Creek.
Work started on the temporary bridge back at the end of March.
The work is part of a $2.5 million contract which consists of replacing the existing structurally deficient bridge, including roadway reconstruction, milling and resurfacing, guardrail, drainage, new signs and pavement markings. Drivers will utilize a temporary roadway and bridge during construction of the new bridge. Work is anticipated to be completed in the spring of 2016. No overweight loads will be permitted onto the temporary bridge (loads weighing over 88-thousand pounds).
The bridge is located at the intersection of Wiggins Lake Road, about one mile north of Ernest Ward Middle School. The bridge being replaced was constructed in 1940.
Pictured: Traffic on Highway 97 was detoured Tuesday onto a temporary bridge in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Marsh Fire Burns On Lower Escambia River
July 22, 2015
The Florida Forest Service and local fire departments monitored a wildfire Tuesday night and Wednesday morning in the marsh of the Escambia River just north and west of Highway 90.
Because of the location, equipment cannot reach the fire so crews were watching the situation, according to Joe Zwierzchowski of the Florida Forest Service. By Wednesday morning, there was no smoke visible from nearby roadways.
Couple Charged With Failing To Report A Death
July 22, 2015
Two Escambia County residents have been charged with failing to report a death. Instead, authorities say they took the man’s TV out of his trailer, literally over his dead body.
Kimberly Joyce Smith, 32, and her boyfriend, 47-year old Stevenson Antonio Holly, were both arrested this week with failing to report a death to the medical examiner.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Smith called her mother about 6 p.m. on May 26 and told her that her father was “cold” and dead inside his mobile home at a North Palafox Street trailer park. Deputies later determined that Smith and Holly were at the trailer about 3:00 that afternoon, when witnesses saw them removing a TV and other items from the trailer.
About noon the following day, Smith’s mother questioned whether she had called 911 to report the death, with Smith telling her “no” because she was scared, an arrest report states.
Investigators said Smith and Holly dropped cigarette ashes onto the deceased man’s head as they toted out items, and his head had a postmortem injury that was believed be from the TV being dropped on his head while it was being carried out of his trailer.
Smith was released from the Escambia County Jail on a pre-trial release bond; Holly was released on a $15,000 bond.
Editor’s note: A typographical error on Kimberly Smith’s age has been corrected. She is 32 years old.
Century Considers Slight Property Tax Increase
July 22, 2015
The Town of Century is considering a property tax increase, but it won’t cost the average citizen more than pennies per month and won’t add much to the town’s bottom line.
The town council is recommending that the town’s property tax rate increase from a current year 0.8707 mills to 0.9006 mill, an increase of 6.35 percent. The increase would equal the 2013-2014 rate, while remaining lower than the rate during the previous three years.
One mill is equal to $1 in taxes per $1,000 in taxable value. If the tax increase is approved, the property tax paid to Century on home with a $50,000 taxable value would increase from $42.34 to $45.03, or about $2.69 per year.
With the increase Century would be set to collect $29,549 in total property taxes, up from $27,784.
Due to homestead and other exemptions, many Century residents do not pay any property tax at all, according to Council President Ann Brooks, because of low property values.
Century will hold budget workshop at 5:00 Thursday afternoon at Town Hall. The workshop is open to the public.
Atmore Police Officer Assaulted; One Charged
July 22, 2015
An Atmore man is behind bars, charged with assault on an Atmore police officer.
About 3 a.m. Sunday, Atmore officers responded to a call for assistance on Sunset Drive where a growing crowd would not disperse, the department said in a Tuesday news release.
Officers responded to find several individuals involved in an altercation. As officers attempted to intervene, 30-year old Johnny Derell Knight of Atmore refused to comply, charged one of the offers and assaulted him.
Knight was arrested without further incident on charges of assault on a police officer, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He was booked into the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton.
Wahoos Move Into Second Place
July 22, 2015
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos played good defense, received clutch hitting and relied on strong pitching to hand the Jacksonville Suns its sixth straight loss.
It all came together to propel the Blue Wahoos to a 6-5 victory Tuesday in front of 3,290 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
On defense, Pensacola turned four double plays and now leads the Southern League with 119 total.
At the plate, Blue Wahoos shortstop Zach Vincej hit a solo home run in the first inning to knot the game at 1. Second baseman Ryan Wright singled in the fifth to score third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean to tie the score, 4-4. Finally, right fielder Juan Duran smashed a double down the third baseline in the sixth inning to put Pensacola ahead, 6-4.
On the mound, Barrett Astin lasted a career-long seven innings in his fifth start in Double-A, setting down the last seven Suns batters he faced. Then, Blue Wahoos closer Zack Weiss struck out two with the bases loaded in the eighth and two more in the ninth to earn his 12th save on the season.
Pensacola leads the Florida rivals’ race for the Golden Skillet, 9-6. The Blue Wahoos, who have one more five-game series left with the Suns, have never won the trophy since its inaugural season in 2012.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly is intent on winning the Golden Skillet, which he has a picture of on his Twitter account. But he said he’s not savvy enough to print it out.
“It would be the first time we’ve won it,” Kelly said. “It really tells us how much Jacksonville has dominated Pensacola the last four years. We want to win every series and win the division. That’s our goal. That’s what we’re shooting for.”
The Blue Wahoos are in second place at 15-10 in the Southern League South Division, one game behind the Mississippi Braves. They were 24-43 and in last place in the first half.
Duran provided much of the clutch hitting for Pensacola Tuesday. He went 3-5 with three doubles and three RBIs. He also generated a run on his own in the fifth when he reached on an error by the third baseman, stole second, stole third and then scored on a wild pitch that cut Jacksonville’s lead to 4-3. His two stolen bases came after he had one in his previous 118 games in Double-A.
Duran is hitting .270 with one homer and 13 RBIs for the Blue Wahoos since returning July 1 to the team after injury rehab at Goodyear, Ariz.
“I’m feeling very good,” said Duran, who played pepper with a Cincinnati Reds hitting coach Tuesday. “This is one of the best games in my life. That’s what I’m working on — being consistent.”
In his fifth start with the Blue Wahoos, Astin overcame a three-run fourth inning, to retire nine of the last 10 Suns he faced. Astin improved to 2-1 with a 3.73 ERA, after giving up four runs, three unearned, on seven hits and two walks, while striking out four.
“A good manager would have left him in the game,” Kelly said jokingly. “Astin did a really nice job, pitching through the seventh inning. We needed what he could give us.”
Jacksonville went on top with three runs in the fourth off Astin to go ahead, 4-2. He walked Suns third baseman Zack Cox to score right fielder Carlos Lopez. Suns catcher Chadd Krist then hit a double to left field that drove in shortstop J.T. Riddle and second baseman Terrence Dayleg.
Pensacola shortstop Zach Vincej tied the game, 1-1, in the bottom of the third when he lined a solo home run to left field. Vincej has hit in 13 of his last 14 games, going 4-7 in the series, with a home run and double. He’s batting 20-50 or .400 with five RBIs in those games and has raised his season average to .261.
The first game of the five-game series is scheduled at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday with the Milwaukee Brewers Double-A affiliate Biloxi Shuckers. LHP Wandy Peralta (5-7, 5.72) takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by Shuckers RHP Johnny Hellweg (0-2, 6.23).
Northview Junior Leads Escambia School Board Meeting Invocation
July 22, 2015
Northview High School junior Mitchell Singleton delivered the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance at Tuesday’s meeting of the Escambia County School Board.
Singleton, who was invited to led the invocation by board member Gerald Boone, has served as class president each year so far during his career at NHS and serves as vice president of the Northview FFA. He has also served as a messenger and a page in Florida House of Representatives.
During his short prayer, Singleton asked that the Lord guide the school board in making decisions that would have a positive impact in the county.
“I believe that asking for the Lord’s guidance is essential for our nation to thrive. History shows that our founding fathers were of the Christian faith. Which means our constitution was drafted on the foundation of Christianity. The only way we are going to restore America is to put God as our foundation again. We strayed away as a nation, and we are reaping the consequences from that right now,” Singleton said later. “Opening a meeting of the school board, or any other government meeting, with an invocation is just one way we can show the people that we stand with Christ.”
Pictured: A video screen grab of Northview High junior Mitchell Singleton delivering the invocation during Tuesday’s meeting of the Escambia County School Board. Courtesy image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.