Escambia County Receives New $36 Million Offer For 540 Acre Entirety Of OLF-8
June 1, 2024
Escambia County has received another offer for the OLF-8 property on Nine Mile road — this time $36 million for the entre 540 acres parcel.
The offer was received from Tri W Development, a subsidiary of Jim Wilson and Associates (JWA) of Montgomery, Alabama, along with CAH Developments, an affiliate of The 1559-Collective in Pensacola.
There’s still an offer on the table from Beulah Town Center, which increased their purchase offer in mid-May to $25 million for 290 acres.
If the county accepted the new offer for the entire 540 acres, they would likely lose a Triumph grant for Frank Reeder Road and other infrastructure improvements that can only happen on property owned by the county.
They are offering to donate 15-25 acres to the school board for construction of a public school.
JWA real estate projects have included Eastchase in Montgomery on 330 acres with retail, hotels, restaurants and shops; the Redstone Gateway business park in Huntsville on 470 acres with office, industrial, hotels, retail and restaurants; Riverchase Galleria in Hoover, a mixed use development with retail, hotels and office space; and New Park in Montgomery, a 1,000 acre master planned community that currently has 400 single family homes, a school, YMCA and more.
CAH developments include Ransley Station on 60 acres at the corner of I-10 and Pine Forest Road in Pensacola, and the East Garden District in Pensacola.
The new offer does not directly address how the current Master Plan for the property would be addressed.
The new offer is on the agenda for discussion at the next Escambia County Commission meeting on Thursday, June 6.
Pictured: The OLF-8 property as seen from Nine Mile Road in May 2024. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
FWC Reports Nine Area Boating Under The Influence Arrests Over Memorial Day Weekend
June 1, 2024
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Northwest Region reported 15 boating under the influence arrests over the Memorial Day weekend.
Nine of the arrests were in Escambia County, five were in Panama City and one in the Tallahassee region.
“We know that a sober vessel operator is a safer vessel operator,” said Maj. Robby Creech, Northwest Regional Commander. “Our officers respond to too many accidents that could have been avoided if the operator had just
designated a driver who was not impaired, removing dangerous individuals from our waterways is a priority for us.”
The FWC The Northwest Region includes 16 counties encompassing Escambia County to Jefferson County.
Driver’s License, Tax Collector Services Available June 11 In Walnut Hill
June 1, 2024
Mark you calendars, driver’s license and other tax collector services will be available in Century on Tuesday, June 11 from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Walnut Hill Community Center.
Mobile Licensing and Identification Office (MILO) is a fully functional tax collector office on wheels, offering a range of services. The mobile unit provides a convenient method to renew a driver license, obtain a replacement driver license, conversion/reciprocation of out-of-state license, change a name or address on a current driver license or identification card, and get a first-time identification card. In addition to licensing services, the mobile unit also provides an opportunity to renew or replace a vehicle registration, receive a parking placard, transfer a title, pay property taxes, and apply for a business tax receipt. Written and driving tests are not available from the MILO unit.
The Walnut Hill Community Center, also known as the “Ruritan Building”, is at 7850 Highway 97, just north of Ernest Ward Middle School and the fire department.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Five-run Sixth Sinks Wahoos In Loss To Shuckers
June 1, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos saw their three-game winning streak come to an end with an 8-5 loss to the Biloxi Shuckers on Friday night.
Despite a pair of two-run homers from Zach Zubia and Joe Mack, the Blue Wahoos couldn’t overcome a five-run sixth inning for Biloxi that proved to be the difference in the game.
With the loss, the Blue Wahoos fell to 1.5 games back of first-place Montgomery with 20 games to play in the first half. The Biscuits were rained out in Mississippi, and will play a doubleheader on Saturday.
Jakob Marsee began the game by drawing a walk against Brett Wichrowski, and stole two bases before coming in on a Mack RBI groundout for a 1-0 Pensacola lead. Zubia’s two-run homer in the third put the Blue Wahoos up 3-1.
Pensacola starter M.D. Johnson worked 5.0 innings, surrendering an RBI double to Noah Campbell in the second and RBI singles to Mike Boeve and Carlos Rodriguez in the third to depart the game tied 3-3.
Chandler Jozwiak (L, 1-3) entered in the bottom of the sixth, and recorded only one out while allowing five runs on four hits. Campbell’s second double of the night gave Biloxi a 5-3 lead, and an Ethan Murray RBI single plus a pair of sacrifice flies put the Shuckers ahead for good.
Mack hit a two-run homer in the eighth against T.J. Shook (W, 3-6), but that was all the Pensacola offense could muster. Blake Holub (S, 1) recorded the final four outs for the Shuckers to nail down the win, snapping a franchise-record 10-game losing streak in the process.
For the second straight night, the umpire crew kept their pen and paper handy. Biloxi first baseman Ernesto Martinez Jr. and manager Joe Ayrault were tossed arguing an out call in the bottom of the first, and Pensacola reliever Austin Roberts was ejected arguing balls and strikes in the bottom of the eighth.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series in Biloxi on Saturday. First pitch from Shuckers Ballpark is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
Florida’s Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday Begins Today: Here’s What You Can Get Tax Free
June 1, 2024
Saturday is the first day of Florida’s two, 14-day Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holidays that June 1 through June 14. A second two-week disaster sales tax holiday will take place August 24 through September 6.
This year, Floridians are expected to save millions on vital disaster preparedness supplies such as pet supplies, tarps, batteries, generators and flashlights, which are all included in the list of items eligible to be purchased tax-free.
Below is a list of all qualifying items:
Selling for $10 or less
- Wet dog or cat food if sold individually or the equivalent if sold in a box or case
Selling for $15 or less
- Manual can openers
- Collapsible or travel-sized food or water bowls for pets
- Cat litter pans
- Pet waste disposal bags
- Hamster or rabbit substrate
Selling for $20 or less
- Reusable ice packs
- Leashes, collars, and muzzles for pets
- Pet pads
Selling for $25 or less
- Cat litter weighing 25 or fewer pounds
Selling for $40 or less
- Candles
- Flashlights
- Lanterns
- Pet beds
Selling for $50 or less
- Portable self-powered radios, two-way radios, or weather-band radios
- Gas or diesel fuel tanks
- Batteries, including rechargeable batteries, listed sizes only – a AA-cell, AAA-cell, C-cell, D-cell, 6-volt, 9-volt
Selling for $60 or less
- Nonelectric food storage coolers
- Portable power banks
Selling for $70 or less
- Smoke detectors or smoke alarms
- Fire extinguishers
- Carbon monoxide detectors
Selling for $100 or less
- Tarpaulins or other flexible waterproof sheeting
- Ground anchor systems
- Portable pet kennels and carriers
- Ratchet straps
- Tie-down kits
- Dry dog or cat food weighing less than 50 pounds
Selling for $3,000 or less
- Portable generators used to provide light or communications or to preserve food in a power outage
Walnut Hill Man Charged With Weapons, Theft Offenses After Search Warrant
May 31, 2024
A Walnut Hill man was arrested on weapons and theft charges after a search warrant was served at his home Thursday, the culmination of a Molino theft case.
Floyd Scott Mooney, 52, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, grand theft over $20,000 but less than $100,000, dealing in stolen property, and grand theft of a firearm.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Property Crimes Unit has investigated the theft of firearms and other property from an elderly victim in Molino over the past few weeks, identifying Mooney has a suspect and obtaining an arrest warrant.
A search warrant was served at Mooney’s home in the 3100 block of North Highway 99 near Breastworks Road, about one-half mile north of the Oak Grove Park. Deputies said he was inside during the search by the Property Crimes Unit, SWAT team and the Pensacola Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
ECSO said five stolen firearms were recovered, along with other coins and evidence related to the investigation.
Mooney remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $50,000.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bond Set Over Half Million For Armed Cantonment Man That Allegedly Broke Into Estranged Wife’s Home
May 31, 2024
A Cantonment man remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning with a bond seat at over a half million dollars after allegedly breaking into his estranged wife’s home where she was inside with her sister.
Dwight Wendel Boutwell, 61, was charged armed burglary of a dwelling, staking, aggravated stalking, aggravated assault, criminal mischief, violation of a protection order and two counts of false imprisonment.
Boutwell was armed with a machete when he entered a home occupied by his estranged wife and sister-in-law, threatening to hit his wife with a shovel and holding both of them against their will, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report. He also broke a water heater inside the house and held both women against their will after harassing both for a period of time, the report states.
Boutwell locked himself inside the residence before deputies arrived, and they made forceable entry, the report continues.
After he was placed under arrest and into the back of an ECSO Tahoe, Boutwell banged his head into a vehicle partition, deputies said. He was transported by Escambia County EMS to Baptist Hospital for treatment before being booked into the Escambia County Jail.
Boutwell remained jailed with bond set $547,500.
NOAA Predicts Super-Charged Hurricane Season With Intense Activity (With List Of Names)
May 31, 2024
NOAA is predicting a record 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins Saturday, June 1.
NOAA National Weather Service forecasters at the Climate Prediction Center predict above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year. NOAA’s outlook for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which spans from June 1 to November 30, predicts an 85% chance of an above-normal season, a 10% chance of a near-normal season and a 5% chance of a below-normal season.
NOAA is forecasting a range of 17 to 25 total named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher). Of those, 8 to 13 are forecast to become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 4 to 7 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). Forecasters have a 70% confidence in these ranges.
The upcoming Atlantic hurricane season is expected to have above-normal activity due to a confluence of factors, including near-record warm ocean temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean, development of La Nina conditions in the Pacific, reduced Atlantic trade winds and less wind shear, all of which tend to favor tropical storm formation.
As one of the strongest El Ninos ever observed nears its end, NOAA scientists predict a quick transition to La Nina conditions, which are conducive to Atlantic hurricane activity because La Nina tends to lessen wind shear in the tropics. At the same time, abundant oceanic heat content in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea creates more energy to fuel storm development.
This hurricane season also features the potential for an above-normal west African monsoon, which can produce African easterly waves that seed some of the strongest and longer-lived Atlantic storms. Finally, light trade winds allow hurricanes to grow in strength without the disruption of strong wind shear, and also minimize ocean cooling. Human-caused climate change is warming our ocean globally and in the Atlantic basin, and melting ice on land, leading to sea level rise, which increases the risk of storm surge. Sea level rise represents a clear human influence on the damage potential from a given hurricane.
FDOT Reimburses Escambia County Over $1.5 Million For New Dawson Road Bridge
May 31, 2024
Escambia County has received reimbursements totaling over $1.5 million from the state after replacing a bridge on Dawson Road near Century.
Temporary repairs were made in 2016 to the structurally deficient timber bridge over Pritchell Mill Branch that was constructed in 1965.
It has now been replaced with a 76-foot long concrete structure. The project also included replacement of about 270 feet of roadway, curb and gutter, guardrail improvements and ditch grading. The new bridge opened in January.
The total project cost was about $1.7 million, and the Florida Department of Transportation has now reimbursed the county $1,577,272 under Florida Department of Transportation Local Agency Partnership Agreement (FDOT/LAP) approved in 2017.
Escambia County will put the money back into Local Option Sales Tax budgets to fund other bridge replacement projects.
Pictured: A new bridge on Dawson Road as seen January 22, 2024. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Additional Murder, Firearms Charges For Atmore Man After Ballistics Testing
May 31, 2024
The Atmore Police Department said Thursday that 22-year-old Isiah Finney has been charged with attempted murder and two counts of discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling for shootings in September 2023 and April 2024.
On April 18, the U.S. Marshal’s Service located and arrested Finney age 22 in reference to several active felony warrants in reference to incidents that occurred in in Atmore in September and November of 2023. Finney left the Atmore area and was tracked by the marshals as he made his way back to Atmore, police said.
The Atmore Police Department develop Finney as their suspect for shooting at an occupied vehicle before fleeing. APD said they recovered firearms from his vehicle along with other evidence.
In April, he was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center on outstanding warrants for discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle, certain persons forbidden to possess firearms, attempting to elude a police officer, and possession of marijuana second degree. An additional new charge of possession of a firearm by a violent felon was added at the time of his arrest.
He remains jailed without bond.