Ray Melton Retires After 24 Years Of Fire And EMS Service
May 29, 2024
Escambia County Fire Rescue Fire and Life Specialist Ray Melton retired Tuesday after 24 years of fire and EMS service, eight of those years with Escambia County Fire Rescue.
“I’m honored to have served our citizens from Pensacola to Century,” Melton said. “Life safety is and always will be my passion and I will never stop that.”
“To the firefighters I have had the honor to work with, you are my brothers and sisters for life and I’m grateful to all of you,” he said. “From fire, to EMS, to dispatch, keep strong and whatever you face; The mission is above all else I’m so grateful for all of you!”
Melton’s interest in the fire service began when he was five years old when firefighters saved his life after he became sick and stopped breathing. After joining the Army at 17 as a finance specialist, he transferred to a firefighting position when the opportunity became available.
In 2016, Melton discovered his passion for fire prevention, but it came with tragedy. On an early Thursday morning, four children lost their lives in Pensacola after a water heater shorted out, causing a deadly fire. From there, Melton knew he had to do something.
Following the tragedy, Melton has worked to make sure another deadly incident like that would never happen again. While with ECFR, Melton has implemented a number of effective and innovative fire prevention programs, such as the county’s “Ready, Set, Go” wildland-urban interface education initiative, where he partners with local forestry personnel to host educational programs with urban communities that could be affected by wildfires.
Melton started the home fire safety program for ECFR. The program is an opportunity for Escambia County residents to request to have their homes inspected for any potential fire hazards, such as exposed wiring, burned electrical outlets and non-functioning smoke detectors. Since then, Melton has inspected numerous Escambia County homes and identified several potential fire hazards, leading to preventative maintenance in those homes.
Melton was honored as one of the Exemplary Public Servants for 2022 by American City & County, a 113-year old publication for government officials.
Now that he is retired, Melton plans to move to Memphis, Tennessee soon.
“I am certainly going to miss my job of bringing fire safety home to our citizens on a personal level,” he said.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jim Allen Elementary Names Students Of The Month
May 29, 2024
Jim Allen Elementary School recently named their May Students of the Month. They are third graders Raelyn Hale and Keylan Biggs. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jury Finds Cantonment Woman Not Guilty Of Burglary, Battery
May 29, 2024
A Cantonment woman has been found not guilty of first degree felony burglary with a battery and misdemeanor battery causing bodily harm.
Christine Elizabeth Haynes, now 44, was charged in 2022 after the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said witnesses stated Haynes knocked on the door before forcing her way into a home where her biological child resided despite not having custody.
An adult female suffered bruising and swelling on her right eye and also had scratches on her neck, chest and arms, deputies said.
After deliberation, an Escambia County jury returned a not guilty verdict.
Wahoos Start Road Series With 4-0 Shutout Over Shuckers
May 29, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
Four Pensacola Blue Wahoos pitchers combined for a four-hit, 4-0 shutout win over the Biloxi Shuckers on Tuesday night
Jonathan Bermúdez (W, 2-3) overcame shaky control to register 5.0 scoreless innings, setting a trend for the Pensacola pitching staff. Despite seven walks, including three from closer Austin Roberts in the ninth, the Blue Wahoos kept the Shuckers off the scoreboard for an important tone-setting win.
The victory helped the Blue Wahoos climb back to within 2.0 games of first-place Montgomery with 23 games to play in the first half. It marked Biloxi’s eighth consecutive loss, one shy of tying a franchise record.
The game was scoreless until the fourth, when Jakob Marsee led off with a double against Shuckers starer Nate Peterson (L, 1-4) and scored on a Zach Zubia RBI single. Joe Mack made it 2-0 in the sixth with a solo home run, his third at the Double-A level.
Cody Morissette added a sacrifice fly in the eighth and Paul McIntosh finished the scoring with an RBI single in the ninth.
After Bermúdez departed, Adam Laskey and Raffi Vizcaíno combined for 3.0 scoreless innings of relief. Roberts walked the bases full in the ninth, but struck out hot-hitting Mike Boeve as the potential tying run to end the game.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series in Biloxi on Wednesday. First pitch from Shuckers Ballpark is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Flomaton Woman Charged After SWAT Team Serves Search Warrant In Century
May 28, 2024
A Flomaton woman is facing charges for methamphetamine and a weapon charged after a search warrant was served in Century.
On May 3, a search warrant was executed at 9206 Academy Street in Century by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team and Narcotics Unit.
The ECSO said Amy Nicole Lewis exited the residence and was detained without incident, and a male was found sleeping in a bedroom.
Investigators reported finding items that included:
- a glass jar containing marijuana
- a High Standard .22 caliber “Deringer-style” pistol with a scratched off serial number inside a pink purse
- pills imprinted with “K40″
- two hidden compartment cans in a kitchen cabinet
- a digital scale which tested positive for methamphetamine on the kitchen stove
- two other digital scales on the stove
- notebook containing phone numbers, also on the stove
- marijuana in a bag in a dresser drawer
- a hidden compartment can that contained 13 grams of bagged methamphetamine, an additional bag with 1.5 grams of meth and 19 blue pills imprinted “V2531″
- an additional hidden compartment can containing jewelry
- a Motorola smartphone
- a white power substance that field test positive for meth on the floor near a bedside table
Lewis told deputies that she was unaware of any narcotics sales happening at her residence but was aware of marijuana in her bedroom, an arrest report states.
The ECSO said Lewis stated she has been regularly staying at the residence for several months while Darrin Green was in prison, and she knew Green to sell narcotics. She said a “hippie looking dude” named David would frequently come to the residence.
Following the May 3 search warrant, an arrest warrant was prepared to Lewis. She was arrested last week and charged with felony possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana not more than 20 grams, and possession of a firearm with an altered serial number. She was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $7,000 bond.
Atmore Man Charged With Murder In Shooting Death
May 28, 2024
A 61-year Atmore man has been charged with murder following a shooting early Monday morning in Atmore.
The Atmore Police department said the domestic violence related shooting happened about 4:05 a.m. in the 100 block of Terrace Street.
Fred Dale was taken into custody without incident. He was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center where he was being held without bond.
Atmore Police have not released the victim’s name or age.
Escambia County To Pave Dirt Portion Of Rockey Branch Road
May 28, 2024
Escambia County has approved just over three-quarters of million dollars to pave a dirt portion of Rockey Branch Road in Cantonment.
The $781,081.21 bid was awarded to Roads Inc. of NWF, which was determined to be the most responsive and lowest cost bid.
The project consists of paving approximately 4,966 linear feet of an existing county-maintained dirt road, and the construction of approximately 1,650 linear feet of new county asphalt road.
According to Escambia County:
The new roadway section will include the construction of roadside swales to treat and convey stormwater runoff. There is currently an unopened 33-foot county-owned right of way along the south property line of the gun range. Escambia County has obtained an additional 33 feet of right of way from the gun range to create a 66-foot right of way running east to west, and a 66-foot right of way running north to south along the west side of the gun range. The proposed right of way will allow for the construction of a new county paved road and the paving of the dirt road portion of Rockey Branch Road. The current access easement through the gun range will be vacated upon completion of the project.
Once work begins, it will take about 330 days to complete the project.
Southern Pine Co-Op Line Workers Recognized For Assisting EREC Power Restoration After Big Storms
May 28, 2024
Southern Pine Electric Cooperative, which serves Escambia, Conecuh, Monroe, Baldwin and Covington counties in Southwest Alabama, recently recognized lin workers that assisted Escambia River Electric Cooperative in restoring thousands of electrical outages following storms two weeks ago.
Cooperatives come to their aid of sister electrical cooperative’s when disaster strikes.
The following Southern Pine Electric Co-op linemen and employees assisted EREC is Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida: (pictured L-R) Brandon Odom, Jordan Brown, Nathan McCrory, Josh Lowery, Grayson Peters, John Paul, Mitch Howard, Josh Henry, Landon Lindsey, Zack Carter, Brian Richburg, Matt Kelley, Christopher Johnson, Joe O’Bannon, Elon Koski, Norris Brooks, David Saucer, Adam York and Jimmy Wilson Not pictured: Tracy Emmons.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Delay Spots
May 28, 2024
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and projects in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- Interstate Circle Bridge Over Eight Mile Creek – Interstate Circle will be closed at the bridge over Eight Mile Creek starting the week of Sunday, May 26 as crews replace the Eight Mile Creek bridge. Traffic will be detoured to Pine Forest Road, Longleaf Drive and Wymart Road. Signage will be in place to direct drivers around the work zone. The detour will be in place through mid-2025.
- Interstate 10 (I-10) at U.S. 29 Interchange (Exit 10) – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures on I-10 near the U.S. 29 interchange from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Tuesday, May 28 through Thursday, May 30 as crews place barrier wall.
- I-10 at Nine Mile Road Interchange (Exit 5) – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts as crews perform median work:
- Inside lane closures on I-10 near Exit 5, Tuesday, May 28 through Thursday, May 30 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Traffic on I-10 is shifted to the outside and will be in place until early 2025.
- Traffic on Nine Mile Road has shifted to the inside and will be in place until mid-2024.
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century – Traffic on U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) is shifted to one outside travel lane in each direction between Rudolph Street and Green Street. The shift will be in place through the spring as crews perform drainage improvements. Signage is in place to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
- County Road (C.R.) 4 over Canoe Creek Bridge – C.R. 4, between Byrneville and Bratt, will be closed through late 2024 as crews replace the Canoe Creek bridge. Traffic is directed through a 5.6-mile detour using Bratt Road to Pine Barren Road, then back to C.R. 4.
- North Palafox Street (U.S. 29) Resurfacing from Cervantes Street to Brent Lane (State Road (S.R.) 296) – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts Tuesday, May 28 and Wednesday, May 29 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. as crews perform paving operations:
- The left turn lane from Pace Boulevard to Massachusetts Avenue is permanently closed. Signs are in place to direct drivers traveling on Palafox Street to Pace Boulevard.
- The left turn lane from Palafox Street northbound to Pace Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue is permanently closed. Signage is in place to direct drivers traveling northbound on U.S. 29 destined for Massachusetts Avenue or Pace Boulevard.
- Scenic Highway (U.S. 90) from north of I-10 to Davis Highway – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on Scenic Highway, Tuesday, May 28 through Thursday, May 30 from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for paving and striping operations. Traffic flaggers will be present to safely guide drivers through the work zone.
Santa Rosa County:
- I-10 Westbound over Blackwater River Resurfacing Project – Drivers may encounter intermittent I-10 westbound lane closures, from the Ward Basin Road on-ramp (Exit 28) to the east end of the Blackwater River Bridge, Tuesday, May 28 through Thursday, May 30, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for crews to install rumble strips and place thermoplastic striping.
- S.R. 89 Resurfacing, from north of S.R. 87 to C.R. 178 – Drivers will encounter intermittent daytime lane closures, between S.R .87 and C.R. 178, Tuesday, May 28 through Friday, May 31 as crews perform paving and earthwork operations.
- U.S. 90 Resurfacing from west of Avalon Boulevard to east of Stewart Street - Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures Monday, May 27 through Thursday, May 30 from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews perform roadway widening and sidewalk reconstruction work.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Median and turn-lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Lake Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between Bayshore Road and Tiger Lake Drive Tuesday, May 28, through Friday, May 31, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Gas Prices Up A Few Cents Over Past Week
May 28, 2024
Florida gas prices were up a bit into the Memorial Day weekend. By Monday night, the average was at $3.51 per gallon, up from $3.45 a week ago.
Florida gas prices averaged $3.41 per gallon on Memorial Day 2023. This year, nearly 2.3 million Floridians were forecast to take a road trip for Memorial Day weekend.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $3.27, up from $3.24 a week ago.
A low of $2.99 could be found Monday in Pensacola at the warehouse clubs. In North Escambia, a low of $3.18 was available at a station on Muscogee Road in Cantonment.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.