Portion Of Stefani Road To Close For Bridge Replacement
January 26, 2015
Work is schedule to begin this week to replace an existing bridge over an unnamed branch on Stefani Road in Cantonment.
The $919,509 project includes replacing the existing bridge, repaving the approaches, new guardrail, minor drainage improvements, sodding, and placement of new pavement markings.
Stefani Road will be closed to traffic during construction. Motorists may utilize Green Hills Road, Pine Forest Road and West Nine One-Half Mile Road as an alternate route, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. The project is scheduled to be complete summer 2015.
All planned activities are weather dependent and may be re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather
Fire At The Drowsy Poet Coffee Company
January 26, 2015
Escambia Fire Rescue responded to The Drowsy Poet Coffee Company on Brent Lane Sunday night. When firefighters arrived on scene, they found smoke in the building and that a piece of equipment had caught fire. The fire was extinguished in under five minutes. No injuries were reported. Reader submitted photo by Josh Tatum for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cruce, Singleton Place In Speaking Events At FFA Districts
January 26, 2015
Two Northview High School students recently placed in FFA District One competitions. Mitchell Singleton placed second in the district in Prepared Public Speaking, while Tiffani Cruce placed first in the district for Extemporaneous Speaking and will advance to the finals during the State FFA Convention in June. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate’s Burks Signs With Florida Gulf Coast Community College
January 26, 2015
Tate High School senior Samantha Burks signed a letter of intent recently with Florida Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City. Joining her for the signing were here family Mark, Donna, Carla and Abbie; grandfather Waylon Burks, great uncle Donald Burks and grandparents Rebecca and Barry Millette. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
One Killed In Saturday Night Single Vehicle Crash
January 25, 2015
One person was killed in a single vehicle crash Saturday night on County Road 97 near Cantonment.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 22-year old Jonathon J. Hall was southbound in a 2006 Pontiac SUV near Devine Farm Road about 6:15 p.m. when he traveled off the roadway for an unknown reason. The SUV overturned, coming to rest on its side. Hall was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected.
Hall was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital were he was pronounced deceased. His passenger, 20-year old Jocelyn Mercer, of Pensacola was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Dies After Being Struck By A Train
January 25, 2015
An Escambia County man has died from injuries he received Saturday when he was struck by a train while alongside railroad tracks.
Pensacola Police Department Sgt. Leon Martin said Blake Austin Doyle, 29, passed away about 9:00 Saturday night. He was walking beside train tracks right at the edge of the rail just after 5 p.m. in the 200 block of Chipley Avenue. Martin said a witness told police he was walking his dog and saw Doyle just prior to the incident.
The witness said Doyle was wearing headphones and had a camera around his neck while he was walking. Martin said the train was unable to stop, struck Doyle and threw him about 40 feet.
No charges will be filed, according to police.
McDavid Convicted Sex Offender Arrested
January 25, 2015
A McDavid sex offender was arrested for failing to register as required.
Joseph Matthew Trump, age 39 of 2131 South Century Boulevard, was charged with the felony registration violation and released from the Escambia County Jail on $2,500 bond.
Trump was convicted in Escambia County of a lewd or lascivious act on a child under 16 in October of 1999 and previously served a five year, 10 month sentence in prison, according to FDLE and Department of Corrections records.
Man Gets Life For Molino Murder
January 25, 2015
Zachary Greer has been sentenced to life in prison for the 2013 first degree murder of Harvey Ray Smith.
His co-defendant, 24-year old Debra Burge, has pleaded no contest in September to a lesser charge of second degree murder charge in the death of Harvey Ray Smith. She will be sentenced this week.
The body of Smith, age 43 of Pace, was found stuffed into a trunk behind a Motel 6 on Davis Highway on the morning of May4, 2013. Smith had been reported missing in Santa Rosa County. Family members located his vehicle at the motel and then discovered the body.
Reports state Burge and Greer conspired to rob Smith. Burge allegedly lured Smith, her acquaintance, to her home in the 3900 block of Highway 97 in Molino. She told deputies she went inside while Smith and Greer remained outside. When she later exited the home, she found Smith on the ground of the Molino home bleeding. She told Sheriff’s investigators that Greer told her he stabbed Smith and put his body in the trunk of the car that was later driven to the Motel 6 on Davis Highway in Pensacola.
Greer was convicted of first degree murder in a jury trial.
Man Charged With Beating Death
January 25, 2015
A man is being held in the Escambia County Jail after being arrested Saturday on a homicide charge by Pensacola Police.
Kenneth Salter, 69, no permanent address, was charged in connection with the murder of Winston D. Smith, 73, of the 900 block of Bayou Boulevard. Smith died Thursday afternoon in a local hospital.
Sgt. Kristin Brown said Smith had allowed Salter to stay in his house for awhile and that the men got into an argument January 12 when Smith told him he had to move out. Brown said that during the argument, Salter struck Smith several times in the head with an object and then left the residence.
Smith’s son found him injured in the home on Tuesday and called for an ambulance to take his father to the hospital. Police were notified about the incident on Wednesday. Detectives Jonathan Thacker and Chad Willhite developed Salter as a suspect during the investigation. Salter was found Saturday morning in a vacant house in the 400 block of West Jackson Street.
Fun, Strange, Even Weird Things Happening This Week At Elementary Schools
January 25, 2015
Elementary school students in Escambia may do things that seem a little strange, or dress a little weird, this week — and it’s all in the name of reading.
This is Literacy Week, with special events planned at most elementary schools in the county. Here are a few highlights from North Escambia are schools:
- Bratt Elementary – Students will drop everything and read each day, and volunteers will read to classes during the week. Students will chill out with a good book, along with winter scarves, hats and mittens on Monday. There will be popcorn for reading, hunting in camo clothing for a good book and read my shirt on Tuesday when students will read other’s shirts and use the vocabulary.
- Byrneville Elementary — Students will Read the Day Away on Thursday with visiting readers and enjoy Family Literacy Night. On Friday, students will take part in a vocabulary parade.
- Jim Allen Elementary — There will be special guest and buddy readers during the week, an author study and more.
- Lipscomb Elementary — Events will include buddy reading, teacher swap, a door contest and drop everything to read.
- McArthur Elementary — Students will take part in a read aloud day, awesome author’s day, learn cold hard facts, fantastic fiction and pajamas and poetry day.
- Molino Park Elementary — The week’s events will begin with a “Read Like Crazy” flash mob, dress up, a graffiti board, a read-a-thon with lasers lights and more.
- Pine Meadow Elementary — The week will be celebrated with decorated classroom doors, on-going literacy activities and a literacy night on Thursday.
For more information on Literacy Week or any of the activities, visit your child’s school website or call the school.