Escambia Sheriff’s Office Holds Movie Night In Century (With Photo Gallery)
December 10, 2022
A big crowd attended an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office movie night Friday night following the Christmas parade in Century.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Crowds enjoyed the movie “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” on a big outdoor screen, along with free hot dogs, hamburgers and popcorn from the ECSO at Anthony Pleasant Park.
The ECSO movie nights are presented across the county by the ECSO and the non-profit Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Foundation.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
The Northview Chiefs Head To State (With Photo Gallery)
December 10, 2022
The Northview Chiefs headed toward Tallahassee Friday afternoon for Saturday night’s state football championship.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
For a photo gallery from Bratt and Byrneville Elem., click or tap here.
After a big sendoff at the school, the Chiefs traveled to Bratt Elementary School, Ernest Ward Middle School and Byrneville Elementary School to the delight of sign-waving “little chiefs”.
The Northview Chiefs will face Hawthorne (11-0) in the state 1R championship game. Hawthorne is coming off a 28-0 shutout of Blountstown Friday night. The FHSAA 1-Rural state title game will be played at 7 p.m. (EST) on Saturday at Gene Cox Stadium in Tallahassee.
Pictured: The Chiefs sendoff Friday at Northview High School, and fans lined the East Highway 4 in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Chiefs Flashback: Northview’s 2012 Football State Championship (With Photo Galleries)
December 10, 2022
It’s been a decade since the Northview Chiefs brought home their one and only football state championship.
For a NorthEscambia.com 2012 state championship flashback photo gallery, click or tap here.
Northview’s current 2022 quarterback Kaden Odom, a little shorter 10 years ago, was at the game in Orlando, as many of the 2022 Chiefs were with their families.
Northview football and Northview fans are family.
And tonight, the family is looking to do it again the Chiefs play Hawthorne at 7 p.m. (EST) Saturday in Tallahassee.
NorthEscambia.com was there a decade ago. Today, we are looking back at Northview Chiefs 2012 1A state champion with our game story and photos from Orlando.
Here is the NorthEscambia.com story from on December 8, 2012:
Northview Chiefs Win Florida 1A State Championship
The Northview High School Chiefs won the Florida Class 1A football championship Friday night in Orlando, beating the Trenton Tigers 42-21.
The road to Orlando had been oh so long for the Chiefs — losing out the past couple of years at the state semi-final level — making the victory oh so much sweeter Friday night.
The state title is the first ever for Northview, the only Escambia or Santa Rosa County team to make the Citrus Bowl in Orlando this year.
There were 3,609 fans on hand for Friday night’s game — over 1,500 of them making the road tip from North Escambia.
After a scoreless first quarter, La’Mikal Kyles scored for the Chiefs on a 58 yard run with 11:07 on the clock. And the Chiefs were just getting warmed up. Chad Smith was in with 8:25 in the half on a 20 yard blocked punt return.And LaDarius Thomas scored on a two-yard run with just 34 seconds in the half. With good kicks from Kevin Vaughan on all three touchdowns, the Chiefs held a 21-0 dominating lead at the half.
Trenton scored on a three yard run in the third, while Northview scored twice in the quarter. Neino Robinson had a 79 yard kickoff return, and Brannon Freeman added a touchdown with a 28 yard run.
Northview had one touchdown, a six-yard run from Kevin Vaughan, in the fourth, while Trenton scored twice. As the clock wound down, the Chiefs won the 1A championship 42-21.
Kyles finished the night with 113 yards and one touchdown on 12 attempts. Freeman had a touchdown and 61 yards on 11 attempts, and Thomas also added a TD and 39 yards on 10 attempts.
Trenton covered more artificial turf that Northview in the Citrus Bowl — 270 yards to Northview’s 226.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia School District, Teachers Union Reach Salary Increase Agreement
December 9, 2022
The Escambia County Public Schools and the Escambia Education Association (EEA) teacher’s union have reached an agreement with a salary increase.
The new minimum salary will increase 3.17% from $44,100 to $45,500 for about 900 teachers. A new starting salary of $47,500 will go into effect on July 1, 2023, increasing pay for about 70% of instructional staff, or about 1,900 teachers.
Beyond the minimum salary increase, all teachers hired prior to July 1, 2011, and who have opted to stay on the “Grandfather” salary schedule will receive the appropriate level increase to guarantee no less than a 2% raise.
These teachers will also receive an additional $200 based on a performance rating of “Effective” or “Highly Effective” from the 2021-2022 year.
All other teachers will receive the appropriate level increase to guarantee no less than a 3% raise. Returning teachers with an “Effective” or “Highly Effective” rating from the ‘21-22 year will receive an additional $200 or $400, respectively.
All instructional staff will receive a one-time $1,000 retention supplement before the end of the school year, and all Exceptional Student Education (ESE) teachers will receive a $300 supplement added to their salaries.
The total value of this salary increase for all instructional staff is $9.7 million, according to the district
The EEA will implement the ratification process for this agreement in all schools and work sites across the district. EEA representatives will construct a ballot and ensure all teachers have the opportunity to vote in agreement or disagreement with the settlement. For this year, the ballot will also include an opportunity for teachers to provide input on the potential movement from 12 pay periods to a 24 pay period, bi-monthly payroll option. Both parties agreed if the majority of the teachers agree, the district can begin implementation on this change the following school year.
Results of the ratification will be attached to the agreement and submitted for school board approval. Upon that approval, and pending ratification by the union, the finance department will begin working on implementing the salary increase for teachers.
Registered Sex Offender From Beulah Arrested On Child Porn Charges
December 9, 2022
A registered sex offender from Beulah was arrested on a child pornography charges.
David Joe Gomez, 44, of Patrick Lane, was charged this week with two counts of possession of child pornography.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that child sexual abuse material was uploaded to a cloud storage account. The ECSO determined that the file had been uploaded from Gomez’s address, according to an arrest report.
Authorities said the images depicted two female children about 6-8 years old exposing themselves in a lewd or lascivious manner.
When a search warrant was served at Gomez’s home, authorities found the image file on his cell phone, the report states.
Gomez was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
According to Florida Department of Law Enforcement records, Gomez was designated as a sex offender in a 2012 providing obscene material to a minor case in which adjudication was withheld.
Atmore Woman Charged After Her Baby Was Born On Methamphetamine, Police Say
December 9, 2022
An Atmore woman was arrested after her baby was allegedly born with methamphetamine in its system.
Sheyanne Maeleigh Wooley, 22, was charged with felony chemical endangerment of a child.
North Baldwin Infirmary contacted the Escambia County (AL) Department of Human Resources after a newborn baby tested positive for meth at the Bay Minette hospital.
DHR contacted Atmore Police to report the situation.
The baby was suffering from withdrawals and was transferred to another facility for treatment, according to Atmore Police Department Sgt. Darrell McMann.
Medical records were subpoenaed, and an arrest warrant was issued for Wooley.
Wooley was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center without bond..
IP Awards $63,000 In Grants To 21 Local Nonprofits
December 9, 2022
International Paper’s Pensacola Mill awarded $63,000 in International Paper Foundation grants this week to 21 local organizations, in conjunction with the company’s commitment to education, hunger, health and wellness, disaster relief and initiatives that improve our planet.
“We are pleased to support local organizations in their efforts to make a difference in education, hunger, health and wellness and disaster relief,” said Whitney Fike, International Paper communications manager. “These grants help organizations fund new yearly projects and programs that support their critical mission and impact those in need in our own community.”
For more photos, click or tap here.
Local community organizations and their projects awarded grants for 2022:
- Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation – Pediatric Health and Wellness Clinic
- Autism Pensacola – 2023 Kids for Camp Summer Learning Lab
- Bright Bridge Ministries – Hot, Healthy Meals
- Capstone Adaptive Learning and Therapy Centers – Expression through Language
- Children’s Home Society – After School and Summer Learning Gains and Enrichment
- Council on Aging of West Florida – Windmill Generator Kits for Kids
- Covenant Hospice Foundation – My Wish to Terminally Ill Children and Adults
- Escambia Search and Rescue – Project Lifesaver International Program
- Feeding the Gulf Coast – Backpack Program: Weekend Meals for Children
- Foodraising Friends – Food in the Home Everyday
- Health and Hope Clinic – Strengthening Clinic Capacity for Care
- Jim Allen Elementary – B.E.S.T. Books for Reading
- Lakeview Center – Supporting Youth in Group Homes
- Manna Food Bank – Healthy Kids Initiative
- Pace Band Boosters – Pace Band New Threads
- Pace Center for Girls – Literacy Intervention
- Pensacola Little Theatre – A Face of Arts Education and the Art of Movement
- ReadyKids! – Ready Readers
- Ronald McDonald House of Northwest Florida – Heart to Heart
- The Arc Gateway – Big Impacts for Children through Access to Tools and Materials
- Valerie’s House – No Child Grieves Alone, Group Night Activities
Grants were determined after careful committee review with local team members. Recommendations are subsequently reviewed by the International Paper Foundation’s grants committee, which then must be confirmed and ratified by the foundation’s board of trustees.
Grants are awarded once a year. Organizations are invited to take an eligibility assessment at www.ipgiving.com to see if their program is eligible to apply for funding.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Driver Crashes Into Parked Pickup At Molino Store
December 8, 2022
One person was reportedly suffered minor injuries in a convenience store parking lot wreck in Molino Thursday morning.
A male in his 70s struck a parked pickup truck in the parking lot of the Tom Thumb at Highway 29 and Highway 97 about 8:45 a.m. The collision pushed the parked pickup over a curb and into a ditch.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Former Flomaton Cop Arrested In Molino For Drug Trafficking Enters Plea On Alabama Ethics Charge
December 8, 2022
A former Flomaton Police officer has entered a plea on an Alabama ethics charge, but is still awaiting trial on Florida drug charges that followed a traffic stop in Molino.
Isaac R. Lopez pleaded to a charge of felony use of official position or office for personal gain, and adjudication was withheld in Escambia County (AL) Circuit Court.
According to authorities, Lopez used a cellphone belonging to the Town of Flomaton to arrange a narcotics deal for methamphetamine from an Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office investigator by phone and text messages.
When he arrived at a predetermined location in Molino on December 7, 2020, he was arrested by the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, SWAT team and Patrol Division. He was charged with trafficking methamphetamine and using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony. A trial date has not been set.
The ECSO received information that Lopez was trafficking methamphetamines and set up an operation to catch him in the act, according to the agency.
Lopez arranged a narcotics deal for two ounces of methamphetamine from an Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office investigator and accepted the narcotics in the 5800 block of North Highway 29 in Molino. He was not on duty at the time.
After his arrest in Florida, Lopez was terminated by the Flomaton Police Department.
In February 2022, he was charged by Flomaton Police with reckless endangerment of a child and contributing to the delinquency of a minor following a Christmas 2021 incident in which a minor was reportedly found under the influence of alcohol. The charge is still pending.
Lopez remained in the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center Thursday where he was being held without bond.
The original drug arrest was the result of a partnership between the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office, Flomaton Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Cantonment Woman Charged With Exploitation Of Her Former In-Laws, Grand Theft
December 8, 2022
A Cantonment woman is charged with stealing from her former in-laws by opening and using fraudulent credit accounts.
Samantha A. Perea, 35, was charged with grand theft, exploitation of the elderly, criminal use of personal identification information, and uttering a forged instrument. All of the charges are felonies.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Perea opened multiple credit lines using the personal information and names of her ex-husband’s parents at Pen Air Federal Credit Union, Chase, Citi, Capital One and Mariner Finance. Total charges to the credit accounts ranged from $30,000 to $80,000, according to an arrest report.
Perea allegedly took two $3,500 checks from a finance company and deposited them into own bank account. She also had the victim’s military retirement check, Social Security and Veterans Administration checks sent directly to her account, the arrest report states.
The victims are ages 71 and 75, according to the sheriff’s office.
The arrest report states before the couple’s separation, Perea had “been ‘in charge’ of the finances and accounts for the family.
Perea was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $32,500 bond.