Fields Of Faith: Community Worship Service Held At Northview High
October 17, 2024
Northview High School’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes hosted a spring Fields of Faith on a cool Wednesday night in Northview’s Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium.
Fields of Faith is a national student-led initiative. “Students invite, pray for, share with, and challenge their peers to read the Bible and follow Jesus Christ. An athletic field provides a neutral, rally point where a community can come together,” according to national organizers.
For more images, click or tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Purple Alert Issued For Escambia Man Last Seen Sept. 28
October 17, 2024
A local purple alert has been issued for a missing and endangered Escambia County man last seen September 28.
The alert was issued Monday by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for 69-year-old Vernon “Bubba” Albion Flowers, Jr. He was last seen in the 5500 block of Perkins Street in Bellview. He was described as having grey hair, a white beard, and brown eyes. He is about 250 pounds and is 6 feet 2 inches tall.
Deputies said he may need medical attention.
Anyone with information is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Deputies Investigate Shooting Incident Involving Sheriff’s Speed Trailer In Byrneville
October 17, 2024
An investigation is underway after someone shot an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office speed trailer in Byrneville.
Just before midnight Tuesday, the ECSO received a report of shots fired in the area of Byrneville Road and McBride Road. The caller told dispatchers that they believed someone was night hunting deer.
Deputies arrived and located several shell casings in the area, according to ECSO spokesperson Morgan Lewis.
“We located one bullet hole in the speed trailer, but it appeared to still be operable,” Lewis said. “Someone may have been hunting a deer, but they hit our trailer instead.”
Wednesday, the speed-checking trailer was still in place on Byrneville Road just south of McBride Road. It appeared to be functionally normally, other than a small piece of evidence tape (pictured below).
The speed trailers went into service after Sheriff Chip Simmons took office. They can be deployed to areas with a known or citizen reported speed problem. The trailers display the speed of passing vehicles, complete with small flashing red and blue LED lights to attract driver attention.
Anyone with information on the speed trailer shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Pictured: An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office speed trailer as seen Wednesday afternoon on Byrneville Road near McBride Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Baseball Hits A Home Run With Fall Halloween Costume Game (With Gallery)
October 17, 2024
Tate Aggie Baseball hosted their annual Fall Baseball Halloween Game Wednesday.
The event started with trunk or treat with the players, and an exhibition game with players in full costume.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Chili, hot dogs and more were available.
There were also games and prizes for the kids between innings.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Kara Melendez Named Named Beulah Academy Of Science Teacher of the Year
October 17, 2024
Kara Melendez has been named the Beulah Academy of Science 2024 Teacher of the Year. She will be under consideration for the Escambia County Teacher of the Year to be announced later this school year. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Beach Lifeguards Shift to Winter Staffing, Towers Off the Beach
October 17, 2024
Pensacola Beach Lifeguards have shifted to winter staffing levels, and lifeguard towers have been removed from the beach until the 2025 lifeguard season. Lifeguards will maintain a presence on Pensacola Beach throughout the winter at Casino Beach and via patrol vehicles.
Residents and visitors are urged to exercise caution when visiting the beach and swimming in the Gulf, especially when lifeguards are not present.
Beach condition flag warnings are as follows:
- Green flag – Low Hazard: Generally calms surf and currents
- Yellow flag – Medium Hazard: Moderate surf and/or currents
- Red flag – High Hazard: High surf and/or dangerous currents; beach patrons are encouraged to remain out of the water
- Double red flag – Water Closed: No swimming or wading
- Purple flag – Stinging Marine Life: Flown when jellyfish, Portuguese man o’war or other stinging marine life are present
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Three Injured in Kingsfield Road Rollover Crash
October 16, 2024
Three people were injured in a rollover crash Wednesday morning near Tate High School.
The crash happened about 8:20 a.m. on Kingsfield Road near the intersection with Tate Road and involved two passenger cars. One, a Hyundai Sonata, came to rest upside down in a ditch.
Three people, including at least two juveniles, were transported to the hospital by Escambia County EMS with injuries that were not considered serious.
The crash is under instigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Atmore Veteran Arrested After Police Find Homemade Explosive Devices In His Home
October 16, 2024
An Atmore veteran was arrested Tuesday after police say they found two homemade explosive devices at his home after he made allegedly concerning statements.
On Monday, the Atmore Police Department responded to a call from a citizen on Pleasant Hill Circle seeking to speak with officers. The officers met with Trenton Lofton, 34, of Atmore, who was visibly upset over personal issues. Although officers initially calmed Lofton, his statements raised concerns, prompting a follow-up investigation.
Tuesday, officers discovered that Lofton, a former military Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician, may have constructed two homemade explosive devices. Lofton, who police said has been receiving treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), became the subject of a more thorough investigation.
Atmore Police Department obtained a search warrant for Lofton’s home. They contacted the Mobile Police Department Bomb Squad, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) SWAT team to assist.
Before they arrived at his home, investigators learned Lofton was at Walmart on North Main Street. A traffic stop was initiated as Lofton was leaving the store, and he was taken into custody without incident. The area around Walmart’s entrance and Highway 21 was shut down while an ATF bomb technician cleared Lofton’s vehicle. No explosives were found.
Attention then shifted to Lofton’s residence. The Mobile Police Department Bomb Squad and ATF carefully searched the property and discovered two homemade explosive devices, which were safely neutralized, according to police.
Lofton was arrested and charged with possession and distribution of destructive devices. He was transported to the Escambia County Detention Center.
“The Atmore Police Department recognizes that Mr. Lofton served our country and is suffering from PTSD. Our hope is that he receives the mental health care he needs,” Atmore Police Sgt. Darrell McMann said.
In 2022, Century Lost Bond Deal That Made Them $1.8 Million; Now, They’ve Hired A Law Firm
October 16, 2024
In 2022, Century lost a deal that earned them nearly $1.8 million since 1999, with most of that coming in just the latter six years of an agreement.
Now, Century has hired a law firm to apparently pursue litigation or take other action against the group with which the town worked on big dollar finance deals as partners with the City of Gulf Breeze.
Tuesday night, the Century Town Council voted to retain the Morgan & Morgan Business Trial Group for contingency-fee litigation against the Capital Trust Agency and the Capital Trust Authority and other potential defendants. The town council approved hiring the law firm on a recommendation by interim town manager Howard Brown with no discussion or explanation.
Before the vote, council president Dynette Lewis asked Brown, “Why is it dated July 11?”
“Because it has been going on since July 11,” Brown responded with no further comment.
Under the contingent fee contract, which does not include personal injury or property damage, Morgan & Morgan will earn a fee of 40% of any gross amount recovered.
What Is Capital Trust?
On the surface it might seem unlikely that Century, one of the poorest small cities in the state, could have ever played a part in the bond financing of dozens of multi-million projects including the Community Maritime Park in Pensacola, $439 million in hotel and convention centers for the Seminole Nation, airport cargo terminals, schools and apartment complexes. The bond money was not from municipal funds of either Gulf Breeze or Century.
The town has served an integral role in the tax-exempt financing of nearly $4 billion worth of projects, including affordable housing projects, airport facilities, hotel and convention developments promoting tourism, health care projects, and K-12 educational buildings.
The approvals were granted by Century and Gulf Breeze as members of the Capital Trust Agency (CTA), an independent public body for the purpose of financing or otherwise accomplishing development programs. Century entered into the Capital Trust Agency with Gulf Breeze in 1999 with Century essentially serving as the “second signature” for CTA, certifying that the projects meet a public purpose under IRS rules and regulations.
The City of Gulf Breeze later partnered with the newly formed Capital Trust Authority (referred to hereafter as the “Authority” in this article). The new Authority reached a deal with Quincy, Florida, as their second signature for all new bond issues. With no involvement, Century would receive no income from the new Authority.
In 2019, a scathing grand jury report found that Century was in a state of financial emergency, and that the council and administration failed to act in the best interest of the community. “Town officials have shown a clear lack of knowledge and understanding as to the operations of a governmental organization,” the grand jury found.
About the same time 2019, Century pushed CTA for the first rate increase in about 20 years, from $350 for each $1 million of bonds issued with a $2,500 minimum per issuance. An agreement was reached to up the payment to $400 per million up to $50 million and $325 for each additional million.
By 2021, Century was looking for another fee increase to $775 per million. And the old CTA was facing increased difficulty in getting bonds approved smoothly by the Century town council. Due to the lack of a quorum, some Agency bond projects were delayed, and CTA faced growing discord between council members.
The Authority’s new deal with Quincy will set to pay that city $400 per million in bonds, with a minimum of $5,000 per deal.
“The Capital Trust Agency (the “Agency”) is still in existence and will continue to administer the outstanding bonds that have been issued dating back to 1999,” Denis McKinnon told NorthEscambia.com in 2022. He was the executive director of both the old Agency and the new Authority. Century only received payment upon the issuance of bonds, so their income from the CTA was zero as all new bonds were issued by the Authority with Gulf Breeze and Quincy.
The CTA paid Century a total of $1,789,828.52 with more than $1 million of that since 2016.
Pictured top: Interim Century town manager Howard Brown at Tuesday night’s council meeting. Pictured first inset: Capital Trust Agency Executive Director Denis McKinnon addresses the Century Town Council in 2022. Pictured lower inset: (L-R) Capital Trust Agency bond counsel Kareem Spratling, Executive Director Denis McKinnon and Gulf Breeze Mayor Cherry Fitch met with the Century Town Council on October 14, 2021. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Schools Announce Their Teachers Of The Year
October 16, 2024
The Office of Community Involvement for the Escambia County (FL) Public Schools has released the full list of Teachers of the Year selected to represent their respective schools. Nominated teachers will compete for selection as the school district’s overall Teacher of the Year.
Several North Escambia area Teachers of the Year have already featured with a front page photo on NorthEscambia.com, and we will continue to feature them over the coming days.
Details regarding this Year’s Teacher of the Year awards ceremony will be released in the coming weeks.
The Escambia County School District’s Teachers of the Year are:
- Jim Allen Elementary – Jacey Taylor
- Bellview Elementary – Natalie Hardeman
- Beulah Elementary – Brooke Ferrara
- Blue Angels Elementary – Christina Cardenas
- Bratt Elementary – Sherri Carter
- Brentwood Elementary – Jill Stewart
- Hellen Caro Elementary – Erin Quinlan
- N. B. Cook Elementary – Kheri Murphy
- Cordova Park Elementary – Margaret Fox-McClellan
- Ensley Elementary – Mary Springer-Alonzo
- Ferry Pass Elementary – Jina Bradley
- Global Learning Academy – Kelly Reed
- Holm Elementary – Lynette Chandler
- Kingsfield Elementary School – Laura Wiggins
- Lincoln Park Elementary – Janie Hayes
- Lipscomb Elementary – Aurora Paul
- Longleaf Elementary – Christine Dunson
- McArthur Elementary – Jodie Langford
- Molino Park Elementary – Heidi Robar
- Montclair Elementary – Maxine Mathis
- Myrtle Grove Elementary – Carrie Lawson
- Navy Point Elementary – Tanya DeGruccio
- Oakcrest Elementary – Deja Ramsey
- Pine Meadow Elementary – Kristen Whiddon
- Pleasant Grove Elementary – Theresa Restifo
- Scenic Heights Elementary – Amanda Byers
- O.J. Semmes Elementary – April Scott
- Sherwood Elementary – Patrice Majewski
- A. K. Suter Elementary – Tracy Eiser
- Warrington Elementary – Sylvia Harvey-Thomas
- C. A. Weis Elementary – Brianna English
- West Pensacola Elementary – Brittany Langlois
- Bailey Middle School – Clif (William) Cone
- Bellview Middle – Vicki Davis
- Beulah Middle – LeAnne Jenkins
- Brown Barge Middle – Nora Guy
- Ernest Ward Middle – Maria Willis
- Ferry Pass Middle – Kristen Amerson
- Ransom Middle – Stacie Hammer
- Workman Middle – Cynethia Gosse
- Escambia High School – Alicia Gifford
- Northview High School – Obreonne Parker
- Pensacola High School – Justin Aultman
- Pine Forest High School – Jonetta Moody
- Tate High School – Kristin Maum
- Booker T. Washington High School – Karen Privett
- West Florida High School – Tiffany Odom
- Alternative Education – Christopher Baker
- Beulah Academy of Science – Kara List
- Achieve Academy – Jayla King
- Success Academy – Pam Carter
- Escambia Virtual – Kimberly Rayburn
- Escambia Westgate – Terri Michelle Price
- ESE – Kirsten Kappler-Bennett
- Hope Horizon – Heather Turner
- George Stone Technical College – Garry Ellison
- Pensacola Beach Charter – Heather Gagnet