Molino Man Charged With Throwing Object, Breaking Windshield Of Passing Car
July 23, 2024
A Molino man was charged with allegedly throwing something at a passing vehicle on Pine Forest Road, breaking a windshield.
Dennis Edward Edmonson, 42, was charged with felony deadly missiles and misdemeanor criminal mischief.
A driver told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that he was driving north in the 7000 block of Pine Forest Road, just south of Five Flags Speedway, when he saw a man later identified as Edwards standing with his bicycle on the side of the road. The man said Edmonson lifted his arm in a throwing motion, and something made a loud bang as hit and shattered his windshield.
The man pulled over on the side of the road, and Edmonson began yelling and advancing toward him, an arrest report states. The man drove away and called law enforcement.
Deputies later located Edmonson standing by his bicycle, wearing the same clothing as described by the victim, according to report.
“Edmonson appeared to be under the influence of narcotics,” the deputy wrote in his report.
Damage to the Toyota Camry was estimated at $500.
Edmonson remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $11,000.
North Escambia Athletes Place In USA Volleyball Beach National Championships
July 23, 2024
Three athletes from North Escambia participated in the 2024 USA Volleyball Beach National Championships Sunday in Fort Lauderdale.
Hartlie Bowman of Molino, who attends Beulah Academy of Science, and her partner Lily Hassell of Gulf breeze places first in the 12U bracket.
Emma Bowman of Molino, who attends Northview High School, and her partner Jayla Templeman from Beulah, who attends Tate High School, finished tied for fifth place in 14U.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Santa Rosa Sheriff Issues Contractor Fraud Alert After Arrest
July 23, 2024
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff Office has issued a fraud alert to the public for 34-year-old Aron Carrillo.
Carrillo has been charged with grand theft, two counts of contracting without a license and failing to obtain building permits throughout the Florida Panhandle, Alabama, and Louisiana. SRSO said he operated under the business name Tres Carrillos LLC.
Investigators said Carillo took $19,000 for a job which required a contractor license and electrical license, but he also failed to obtain the proper permits and permit inspections for the job. They said he caused an estimated $50,000 in damage to the house he worked on including potentially damaging the support beams vital to the house’s structural integrity.
Charges are also pending in other Florida counties for similar incidents involving Carrillo.
Carrillo was arrested and is currently held in the Gadsden County Jail awaiting extradition.
“We are encouraging anyone who previously conducted business Aron Carrillo or Tres Carrillos LLC to contact the Santa Rosa County Sheriff Office with information related to any work conducted by him,” the agency said.
Escambia Man Gets 10 Years On Firearms And Financial Racketeering Charges
July 23, 2024
An Escambia County man was sentenced to a decade in state prison for on firearms and financial crime charges.
A jury found Ramon Borner guilty of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Circuit Judge Coleman Lee Robinson sentenced Borner to 10 years state prison.
On August 16, 2022, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the Borner’s residence as part of an economic crime investigation into a large check fraud ring. Persecutors said he was found in possession of an AR style firearm under the bed and a pistol in a drawer.
He also entered a plea to racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, and an additional count of felony in possession of a firearm for another AR style firearm. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison on the additional charges to be served concurrently. He was also ordered to pay $89,639.15 in restitution to the victims.
New Name, Same Fish: Largemouth Bass Are Now Florida Bass
July 23, 2024
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says genetics studies confirmed what many anglers and biologists have believed for a long time – Florida bass are special.
Florida’s most popular freshwater game fish has a new name. The American Fisheries Society established the Florida bass as a separate species from the largemouth bass. This means that in most of Florida what was known as a largemouth bass is now called a Florida bass.
The name change will affect how the fish is referred to in regulations and other communications. However, it will not affect anglers fishing for this iconic freshwater sport fish.
According to the recent research publication by Yale University, the study used advanced genetic analysis and determined Florida bass to be its own species. The research also identified the range of Florida bass to be larger than once believed, including not only Florida, but also parts of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
The scientific names of these two bass also changed. Largemouth bass, previously Micropterus salmoides, is now the scientific name for Florida bass. Largemouth bass are now Micropterus nigricans.
ECUA Considering Water, Sewer And Sanitation Rate Increases
July 22, 2024
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority is considering rate increases for water, wastewater and sanitation customers.
The ECUA Citizen’s Advisory Committee recommended a 3% across the board for all three services.
The proposed 3% for water and wastewater rate increases would be a moderate increase for customers. For an average mainland customer using 6,000 gallons, the increase will be just under $1 per month for water and under $2 for wastewater. (Pensacola Beach water and wastewater customers pay a higher rate.)
A 3% increase or sanitation rates is also proposed.
For residential customers with a 90-gallon on smaller container, the rate would increase from $29.82 to $30.56, increasing by 78 cents. The senior citizen rate with a 60-gallon container would increase 62 cents from $24.98 to $25.60.
“Other changes include an increase so the initial delivery charge for non-compaction rolloff containers in the commercial division, the resolution states. “The (fiscal year) 2024 budget included changes to commercial rates to become more competitive with the private sector.”
Resolutions to be considered by the ECUA board this Tuesday would set public hearings on the proposals for 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 7.
Highway 4, Highway 168 Bridges Across North Escambia Remain Closed. Here’s An Update.
July 22, 2024
Two frequently traveled east-west routes across the extreme northern part of Escambia County remain closed due to bridges closures.
The Highway 168 bridge over Hobbs Branch, about three-quarters of a mile east of Pine Barren Road near Bratt, was closed July 3 after it failed a state inspection. When NorthEscambia.com photographed the bridge late shortly after the closure, it was obvious that at least one wooden support was extremely deteriorated and almost completely broken in two.
District 5 Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry said Sunday it is expected to take about 90 days for the Highway 168 bridge repairs, but there’s always hope the fix could be completed in less time.
Highway 168 and the bridge have served as a vital link between Bratt and Century since the closure of an 81-year-old Highway 4 bridge over Canoe Creek in July 2023.
Now, Bratt Road Bratt to Byrneville is the detour for both Highway 4 and Highway 168. Drivers from Highway 168 will also use Pine Barren Road to the west and Raines Road to the east to reach Bratt Road.
The latest estimate is that a new bridge on Highway 4 will reopen in late July. Sunday evening, the bridge appeared complete, but work remained to prepare and pave the approaches as well as finish shoulder work.
While not the “official” detour, many local residents have been using Highway 168 as a detour for Highway 4.
Average daily traffic in 2021 was 550 vehicles per day on the Highway 168 bridge. However, traffic is likely significantly higher now the closure of the Highway 4 bridge for replacement. The average daily traffic count on the Highway 4 bridge was 1,800 vehicles per day prior to its closure.
Pictured above: The Highway 4 bridge over Canoe Creek Sunday evening. Pictured below: The Highway 168 bridge over Hobbs Branch on July 3, 2024. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Free Summer Lunch Available For Youth At Libraries In Escambia County
July 22, 2024
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Free summer lunches for youth are continuing at West Florida Public Libraries locations.
The libraries serve free lunch for youth 18 years of age and younger at all library locations Monday through Friday from noon until 1 p.m. through a partnership with Feeding the Gulf Coast. Disabled individuals are 19 and older who participate in a public or private non-profit program during the school year are also eligible to receive meals.
A special rural grab-and-go version of the program is available at the Century and Molino library locations.
Cafeteria style lunch is hosted at the Pensacola, Tryon, Westside, Southwest and Bellview libraries. Food at these locations must be consumed on-site.
The program will continue through Friday, August 2.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
AAA: Florida Gas Prices Dropped 18 Cents In 10 Days
July 22, 2024
Florida gas prices have plummeted 18 cents per gallon in the past 10 days, AAA says.
Sunday’s state average of $3.36 is the lowest daily average price since July 1. It’s 28 cents less than the highest price this year ($3.64) – recorded on May 3.
During that time, the state average fell from $3.55 per gallon to $3.36 per gallon on Sunday.
In Escambia County, the average price was $3.14. A low of $2.97 was available Sunday night at stations on Pine Forest Road, East Nine Mile Road and Mobile Highway. In North Escambia, the low price was $3.05 at a station on Highway 29 in Cantonment.
“Futures prices have fallen the past two weeks, to the lowest levels in more than a month,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “This lowered the cost of gasoline production. However, Florida gas prices have been erratic this summer and an early week rally is not out of the question.”
Potential Sinking Of SS United States Under Consideration For Escambia County As Artificial Reef
July 22, 2024
There’s discussion about sinking the SS United States, a 1,000-foot-long ship that’s larger than the Oriskany and longer than the Titanic, offshore from Escambia County.
Many in the diving community have expressed support of the idea, saying it would make Escambia County an ultimate diving spot.
If approved, the ship would become a new dive attraction in the area, bringing tourism and economic benefits to the region. But it would come without a hefty price tag.
Escambia County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh said it would take a commitment of $10 million and fast because it would need to be moved from a shipyard in Pennsylvania by September 12 and towed to Escambia County during hurricane season.
“I like the idea; I like the plan. But $10 Million is a heavy lift. Possible funding sources include TDT (tourist development tax) funds, perhaps some BP Oil Spill money, and potentially even a Triumph Gulf Coast grant if such a project could meet that board’s criteria,” Berfosh wrote on his blog. ” Stay tuned over the next several weeks as this will be discussed due to the pressing timeline. And again, for my vote, I LOVE this idea just as I LOVED the plan to bring American Magic here — which has now come to pass.
“This ship could also be a huge get for our area,” he wrote.
The Escambia County Marine Advisory Committee is expected to discuss the idea at a Monday afternoon meeting.
The SS United States is 990 feet long, 100 feet longer than the Titanic. It is just over 101 feet wide, and 53,330 tonnes. The draw at the load line was 36 feet-4 inches. The ocean liner was built between 1950 and 1951 for Unite States Lines. It was taken out of service in 1969.
The nonprofit SS United States Conservancy is working to relocate the ship from Philadelphia to comply with a court order. They have filed a motion with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania requesting a short extension of the deadline to move the vessel from September 12, 2024, until December 5, 2024.
The Conservancy’s motion comes as the organization continues to aggressively explore potential temporary and permanent berths in the Philadelphia area and other port cities along the East Coast and prepare the ship to leave its current pier safely, according to a press release.
Earlier this summer, U.S. District Court Senior Judge Anita Brody ruled that the SS United States’ landlord, Penn Warehousing, could not double dockage fees without notice in its effort to force America’s Flagship from Pier 82 in Philadelphia. However, the Court also directed the Conservancy to remove the irreplaceable national symbol from Pier 82 in Philadelphia by September 12, 2024.