Atmore Couple Charged After Children Allegedly Found Living In Squalor Alongside Drugs
August 1, 2024
An Atmore couple was charged with the chemical endangerment of a child and multiple drug offenses after police reportedly found children living in squalor with drugs nearby.
Nikki Presley, 24, and her husband, 37-year-old Corderela Dirden were both charged with possession of a controlled substance, chemical endangerment of a child and possession of drug paraphernalia. Both were booked into the Escambia County Detention Center without bond.
The arrests came after the Atmore Police Department responded to a reported domestic disturbance in the 300 block of Jacks Springs Road. When the officers arrived on the scene, they encountered a male and a female in the front yard who claimed they weren’t involved in a disturbance.
After checking their identifications, officers discovered that 50-year-old Lori Nelson had an active felony warrant for failure to appear in a possession of dangerous drugs case with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. Nelson was detained as officers continued to investigate.
Officers contacted Presley has she exited the residence. She informed police that they could go inside where Dirden was. Dirden had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant from APD.
“While looking for Dirden, the officers found three children under 4 years of age asleep in a bedroom and in the living room with drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine in close proximity. Dirden was located and was
placed under arrest in reference to the active misdemeanor warrants,” Atmore Police Sgt. Darrell McMann said. “The officers also observed the residence was infested with roaches and other insects. The floor was littered
with dirty diapers, food, feces, and other waste. The Department of Human Resources was contacted, and the children were turned over to a family member.”
Nelson was turned over to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.
Two Injured In Highway 29 Crash At Bluff Spring Road
August 1, 2024
Two people were reportedly injured in a two vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon on Highway 29.
The driver of a SUV apparently collided with the rear of a pickup truck at the intersection of Highway 29 and Bluff Springs Road.
One person was transported to the hospital by Escambia County EMS, and a second person was going to the hospital in a private vehicle.
None of the injuries were considered critical.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released additional details.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Woman Dies After Beulah Shooting
August 1, 2024
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said a 25-year-old woman shot Saturday night in Beulah has passed away from her injuries.
The ECSO said a death investigation is now underway.
The shooting happened about 8:40 Saturday night at a home on Cali lane near Frank Reeder Road.
Deputies responded to a report of a female with a gunshot wound and found the woman had in fact been shot. She was transported to an area hospital where she later died.’
Further details have not been released.
Escambia Tax Preparer Sentenced To Federal Prison For Preparing False Tax Returns
August 1, 2024
An Escambia County tax preparer has been sentenced to 26 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to charges of preparing false tax returns.
Between 2015 and 2019, Jean-Pierre, owner of WJP Financial Services, LLC., a tax preparation business in Pensacola, prepared and filed approximately 1,949 false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service for various clients. Jean-Pierre falsely represented the taxpayers’ income, deductions, credits, and the refund due, to steal funds from the American taxpayers for his gain.
Jean-Pierre’s prison sentence will be followed by 1 year of supervised release and he was ordered to pay $830,840.00 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
“The United States and its citizens rely on the payment of taxes to defend our country and maintain its operations,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “Efforts to steal from hardworking American taxpayers – here by a corrupt tax preparer – will result in swift and significant sanctions.”
“Clients place special trust in their tax preparers, who have a duty to prepare their clients’ returns accurately and in compliance with the law,” said Ronald A. Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS CI’s Tampa Field Office. “Mr. Jean-Pierre is now paying the price for violating that trust for his own personal gain. This sentencing should serve as a warning to those tax preparers who choose to line their own pockets rather than do what’s best for their clients.”
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp.
Wahoos Rout Lookouts In Historic Doubleheader Sweep
August 1, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos swept the Chattanooga Lookouts in convincing fashion on Wednesday night, winning game one of their doubleheader 16-7 and setting a team record with a 19-run margin of victory in a 20-1 nightcap.
Making up Tuesday’s rainout with a twin bill, the Blue Wahoos were invigorated by the arrival of new players in the aftermath of the MLB trade deadline. In game one, Jared Serna, acquired over the weekend from the Yankees in a trade that sent Jazz Chisholm Jr. to New York, burst onto the scene with a 4-for-5, 3 RBI game in his Double-A debut. Jakob Marsee tied a Blue Wahoos single-game record with 6 RBI in the first game, hitting the team’s first grand slam of the season as the Wahoos scored 16 runs on 18 hits.
Luis Palacios (W, 8-5) allowed only two earned runs over 5.2 innings, earning his team-leading 8th win of the season and moving into a tie for second place in team history with his 18th career win. He outdueled Kevin Abel (L, 4-5), who allowed six runs in 4.0 innings before the Chattanooga bullpen let things get out of hand.
Joe Mack capped the 17-run outburst with his team-leading 17th home run of the season, a three-run shot in the seventh inning to highlight a 4-RBI game for the Pensacola catcher.
In game two, Tristan Stevens (W, 2-1) worked 5.0 innings of one-run ball to earn the win for the Blue Wahoos. Pensacola scored two runs in the first inning without a hit against Jose Acuña (L, 0-2), setting the tone for a wild night.
The Blue Wahoos added to their lead in the third as Andrew Pintar executed a double steal of home, just the eighth in team history, followed by a two-out, two-run single from Cody Morissette. An opposite-field two-run homer from Paul McIntosh in the fourth extended the Pensacola advantage to 7-1.
The seventh inning saw the Lookouts wave the white flag, ultimately sending in position player Francisco Urbaez to serve up 10 Pensacola runs on five hits, six walks and a hit batsman. Serna added a two-run double and a bases-loaded walk for a 4-RBI game, McIntosh drove in his fourth run of the night with a bases-loaded walk, and Jacob Berry put the finishing touches on an historic night with an RBI single.
The 19-run margin of victory marked the most lopsided win in team history, surpassing a 22-6 win in Birmingham in May of 2023.
The Blue Wahoos pulled into a tie for second place with the Mississippi Braves with the pair of wins. Both teams are 2.0 games behind the Biloxi Shuckers in the second half South Division race.
The series in Chattanooga continues on Thursday. First pitch from AT&T Field is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET/6:15 p.m. CT.
Photos: Oversize Load Travels Down Highway 29
July 31, 2024
An oversize load traveled south on Highway 29 through North Escambia Wednesday afternoon.
The large commercial load was escorted by the Florida Highway Patrol and several other vehicles, causing a slight traffic backup behind the convoy.
There was no word on where the load was headed.
Pictured: A large commercial load travels south on Highway 29 at Byrneville Road Wednesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Purchasing Playground, Pavilion For New Park At Former IP Golf Course
July 31, 2024
In April, Escambia County leased the 68-acre former International Paper golf course in Cantonment to develop it into a park.
This week, the Escambia County Commission is set to approve the purchase a play structure and 704 square feet recreational shelter with tables for the property. The commission on Thursday will consider the $369,775.76 purchase and installation from GameTime. The recreational area will be open to the public and free of charge once completed and opened. The playground will include a play structure for ages 5-12 and a separate play structure for ages 2-5.
The purchase will be funded from the Cantonment Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).
The golf course has been closed since 2017. Escambia County plans to use the land for disc golf and walking trails in addition to the pavilion and playground. The park will be open only during daylight hours.
Under the lease agreement for, Escambia County will pay a $5,000 lease fee the first year with an annual increase of 5% with the lease reading $6,077.53 by year five.
The property was previously known as the Champion Golf Club.
Pictured: The former International Paper golf course at the corner of Highway 29 and Muscogee Road in Cantonment. Courtesy (top) and NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Card Skimmers Found On Four PenAir ATMs, Sheriff’s Office Says
July 31, 2024
The Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office was notified Tuesday of evidence of card skimming devices inserted inside four of the credit union’s ATM/LIVE machines in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
The SRSO said PenAir immediately secured the affected ATMs and notified the appropriate authorities, including local law enforcement, and are in the process of notifying regulatory bodies.
Because they were inserted inside the machines, the skimmers were not detectable from outside the machines, the sheriff’s office said.
Authorities said pinhole cameras were also capturing PIN numbers at the ATMs.
PenAir said all ATM/LIVE Teller locations were inspected, and no other machines have security concerns or evidence of skimmers.
“We are working to ensure those responsible are identified and apprehended,” the sheriff’s office said.
PenAir said the affected ATMs at their Woodbine (5 Points), 9th Avenue, and two Garden Street locations have been temporarily closed. PenAir has replaced the damaged equipment
All other locations remained operational.
“As both members and non-members use these machines, we recommend that anyone who suspects unauthorized activity on their accounts contact their financial institution immediately, PenAir is in the process of notifying affected customers directly, returning funds, and providing guidance on how to monitor and secure their accounts. We encourage all our members and those in our community to review their account statements and transaction history for any unauthorized activity,” the credit union said.
Pictured; A standalone PenAir Credit Union ATM in Century. This ATM was not one of those determined to have a skimming device. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Century Highway 29 Construction Zone Traffic Shift Set For Thursday
July 31, 2024
After several delays, an anticipated traffic shift in a Highway 29 construction zone in Century is apparently on track to happen Thursday.
The Florida Department of Transpiration said traffic on North Century Boulevard will be shifted to the southbound travel lanes, between Rudolph Street and Green Street, beginning Thursday, August 1. One travel lane in each direction will be open as crews reconstruct the adjacent northbound lanes.
The traffic shift is expected to remain in place through the summer. Signage will be in place to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
The work is part of a $4.7 million safety project to resurface Highway 29. The Project includes a major reconstruction and realignment of Highway 29 from just south of East Highway 4 to the Alabama state line. FDOT will also upgrade traffic signals, drainage structures, pavement markings, and driveways, while also improving curb ramps and sidewalks to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
FDOT previously announced the shift would take place on July 15, then July 25, then August 1.
The project is estimated to be completed in late 2024.
Pictured: New lanes on North Century Boulevard as seen Tuesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
ECUA Introduces Enhanced Online Bill Pay Service
July 31, 2024
ECUA has launched a new online bill pay options, designed to provide customers with a more convenient, secure, and efficient way to manage their bills.
The new online bill pay process allows customers to make payments quickly and easily from any device with internet access. ECUA said the upgrade reflects their commitment to improving customers’ experience and leveraging technology to meet the evolving needs of customers.
To enroll in the new online bill pay service, customers can visit the ECUA website at ecua.fl.gov. For additional assistance or questions, customer support is available at customer.support@ecua.fl.gov or by calling (850) 476-0480. Note that customers that previously signed up for online account access will need to enroll again in the new service.
Key Features of the New Online Bill Pay Service:
- User-Friendly Interface: An intuitive design ensures that even first-time users can navigate the platform with ease.
- Secure Transactions: Advanced encryption and security measures protect personal and payment information.
- Flexible Payment Options: Customers can choose to pay using credit/debit cards or direct bank transfers (ACH), with options for one-time or recurring payments.
- Make Multiple Payments: Customers can choose to make payments to multiple accounts at the same time.
- New Pay-by-Phone Number: Call (850) 512-1548 to make payments by phone
- Real-Time Confirmation: Immediate payment confirmations provide peace of mind and a record of each transaction.
- 24/7 Accessibility: Pay bills anytime, anywhere, without the constraints of traditional office hours.
- Bill History: Customers will be able to view images of previous bills.
- Text to Pay: Receive a text when a new bill is generated and pay the bill directly from the text.
- Email and Text Notifications: Customers can set up to receive email or text notifications when there is a new bill or when a bill is due.
“We’re excited to offer this new Online Bill Pay service as part of our ongoing efforts to enhance customer convenience and streamline payment processes,” said Bruce Woody, executive director] at ECUA. “Our goal is to provide our customers with the best possible experience, and this new option is a significant step toward achieving that.”
NorthEscambai.com graphic.