Tate Boys Tennis Defeats Navarre
April 6, 2024
The Tate Aggies tennis boys defeated Navarre 7-0 this week. With the win, the Aggies improved to 10-1 on the season. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Sentenced To Prison For DUI Pedestrian Hit And Run
April 5, 2024
A Cantonment man has been sentenced to state prison for a hit and run crash involving a pedestrian in Pensacola on March 23, 2023.
Sean James Young was adjudicated under a plea deal of failure to remain at a crash with severe bodily injury and DUI with serious bodily injury.
Judge John Simon sentenced him to 36 months in state prison followed by five years probation, and he was immediately remanded into custody following Monday’s hearing.
Young was involved in a hit and run pedestrian crash at East Garden Street and North Jefferson Street that left the victim with serious pelvic injuries, according to Pensacola Police. Young refused to submit to a breath alcohol test, but officers noted a strong smell on alcohol of his breath and obvious impairment.
Forecasters Predict Extremely Active Hurricane Season
April 5, 2024
Colorado State University hurricane researchers are predicting an extremely active Atlantic hurricane season in their initial 2024 forecast. The team cites record warm tropical and eastern subtropical Atlantic sea surface temperatures as a primary factor for their prediction of 11 hurricanes this year.
The report also includes the probability of major hurricanes making landfall: 42% for the Gulf Coast from the Florida panhandle westward to Brownsville (average from 1880–2020 is 27%).
When waters in the eastern and central tropical and subtropical Atlantic are much warmer than normal in the spring, it tends to force a weaker subtropical high and associated weaker winds blowing across the tropical Atlantic. These conditions will likely lead to a continuation of well above-average water temperatures in the tropical Atlantic for the peak of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. A very warm Atlantic favors an above-average season, since a hurricane’s fuel source is warm ocean water. In addition, a warm Atlantic leads to lower atmospheric pressure and a more unstable atmosphere. Both conditions favor hurricanes.
While the tropical Pacific is currently characterized by El Niño conditions, these are likely to transition to La Niña conditions by the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season from August to October. La Niña tends to decrease upper-level westerly winds across the Caribbean into the tropical Atlantic. These decreased upper-level winds result in reduced vertical wind shear, favoring Atlantic hurricane formation and intensification.
Given the combined hurricane-favorable signals of an extremely warm Atlantic and a likely developing La Niña, the forecast team has higher-than-normal confidence for an April outlook that the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season will be very active. This is the highest prediction for hurricanes that CSU has ever issued with their April outlook.
The CSU Tropical Weather and Climate team is predicting 23 named storms during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. Of those, researchers forecast 11 become hurricanes and five to reach major hurricane strength (Saffir/Simpson Category 3-4-5) with sustained winds of 111 miles per hour or greater.
The CSU Tropical Weather and Climate Team is part of the Department of Atmospheric Science in the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering at CSU and is one of the top ranked Atmospheric Science programs in the world.
Northview Lady Chiefs Come From Behind To Beat The Jay Royals
April 5, 2024
The Northview Lady Chiefs battled back from a four-run deficit defeat the Jay Royals 6-4 Thursday night in Royal territory.
The Royals were first on the board with a 2 RBI Morgan Barrow homerun to right field. Jay increased their lead in the bottom of the third when Kaylee Gilbreath singled and Brooklyn Sorrells scored.
A Jamison Gilman double and a single rom Riley Brookes for Northview tied it up at 4-4 in the top of the seventh. With doubles in the top of the eighth from Avery Stukey and Mikayla McAnally, the Chies pulled head with a 6-4 lead.
Gilman led things off in the circle for the Lady Chiefs, giving up five hits and four runs in four and one-third innings while striking out one and walking three. McAnally went three and two-third innings in relief, surrendering one hit, walking one and striking out three.
Layna Lowery opened for Jay, giving up four hits and one run in six innings, walking one and striking out three. C Carroll finished, surrendering six hits and four runs while striking out one and walking none in two innings.
The Northview Chiefs will host the Escambia Gators Friday at 5:30 p.m. while Jay will host T.R. Miller on April 9.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Updated Dates: Free Community Emergency Response Team Training To Be Held In Century
April 5, 2024
UPDATE: BRACE has updated training dates to April 8, 11, 15 and 18 — moving a previously scheduled April 9 training to April 8 and an April 16 training to April 15. The change was due to a scheduling conflict.
BRACE –the Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies in Escambia County — will hold Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training beginning next week in Century for North Escambia residents.
CERT is a training program that prepares Floridians to help their families and neighbors in the event of a disaster in their community. Through CERT, citizens can learn about disaster preparedness and receive training in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations.
With this training, Florida volunteers can provide critical support in their local communities by giving immediate assistance to victims before emergency first responders arrive on scene. CERT volunteers also support the community year-round by participating in community preparedness outreach activities and distributing materials on disaster preparedness and education.
“It teaches you how to be prepared for yourself, your family and for your neighbors until help arrives in emergency situations,” BRACE CEO Dr. Nick Jackson said. “CERT volunteers meet the need before first responders arrive and are committed to ensuring that their community needs are met. They are also a voice for their community with the county to ensure the needs of their areas are met and the resources are sent into the communities where the need is the greatest.”
For instance, Jackson said CERT volunteers could respond to a natural disaster such as the EF-3 tornado that struck Century with winds up to 152 mph on February 15, 2016.
CERT classes are free and open to the public at the Century Community Center (also known as the “Ag Building” at West Highway 4 and Industrial Boulevard from 6-9 p.m. on April 8, 11, 15 and 18. Hands-on instruction will be at the same location on April 20 from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. All classes must be attended to receive certification.
To register, visit Eventbrite by clicking here. For more information, contact Elizabeth Voytko at (850) 739-3978 or email trainingcoord@bereadyalliance.org.
Pictured top: Century Town Council member Sandra Jackson underwent CERT training in 2011. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
WFHS Slides Past Northview Varsity; JV Battles To A Tie
April 5, 2024
West Florida 5, Northview 1 (Varsity)
The West Florida Jaguars defeated the Northview Chiefs 5-1 in varsity action Thursday night in Bratt.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Grayson Phillips earned the win for the Jags, allowing two hits and one run while striking out seven and walking one over seven innings.
Jase Portwood took the loss for the Chiefs, going six innings while surrendering five runs and nine hits, walking two and striking out seven.
Phillips had two RBIs for WFHS. Jaxson Cramer, Dax Robbins, and Connor Powers each contributed two hits.
Brady Smith and Dane King had one hit each for the Chiefs.
Northview will host Pine Forest MOnday at 6:30 p.m. West Florida will travel to Crestview Saturday afternoon with first pitch at 2:30.
West Florida 4, Northview 4 (JV)
In junior varsity action, Northview and West Florida battled to a 4-4 tie after five innings Thursday afternoon in Bratt.
J Boutwell opened on the mound for the Chiefs, giving up four hits and four runs while walking four and striking out five over four and one-third innings. G Harrison closed, tossing two-thirds of the final inning giving up no hits and no runs while striking out two and walking one.
Ayden Crabtree, Brayden Gindl, Easten Odom and Nate Jones each had one hit for Northview.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Moves Up To $36K To Make Gas Safety Relocation Project Loan Payment
April 5, 2024
The Century Town Council voted this week to transfer up to $36,000 in order to make a loan payment.
The council voted to transfer an amount not to exceed $36,000 in Local Option Sales Tax Funds to make a payment on USDA Rural Development loan for a gas relocation project.
The non-specific “up to” amount approved because the council’s agenda package had two different payments amounts — $36,000 and $32,082 — listed due to a scrivener’s error.
If the full $36,000, the payment would leave a LOST balance of $814,284.87.
Work began on the project in August 20114 on a leaking section of natural gas pipe under Highway 29 in Century, three and a half years since the leak was publicly revealed as a “major public safety issue”. In April 2012, Century signed off on a $1.4 million USDA Rural Development loan to cover the cost of replacing the pipe.
Peacock Signs With Mount Mercer University
April 5, 2024
Gage Peacock of Beulah has signed with Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The Lighthouse Private Christian Academy senior received baseball and an academic scholarships. He will also bowling for the school.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Updated: Volunteer Firefighter Attacked By Dog After Responding To Reported RV Crash; Driver Arrested
April 4, 2024
An Escambia County volunteer firefighter was attacked by a dog after responding to a reported vehicle crash with a trapped occupant Wednesday afternoon in Bratt, and the driver of the vehicle was arrested.
The Walnut Hill and McDavid stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue were dispatched about 5 p.m. to the reported recreational vehicle crash on North Highway 99 near Hanks Road. The first firefighter to arrive was a Walnut Hill volunteer in his personal vehicle. The firefighter reportedly arrived to find the driver standing outside the vehicle with two unleashed dogs. As the firefighter walked toward the RV, one of the dogs attacked him, knocking him to the ground from behind.
A Escambia County Sherriff’s Office deputy had arrived moments before the firefighter and was told by the driver that two aggressive dogs were in the vehicle, along with his 80-year old mother, and ECSO spokesperson said Thursday morning. He was instructed to remove the dogs from the RV and complied. He then removed the dogs from their leashes before the attack.
The dog was shot by the deputy to stop the attack. The dog died a short time later.
The firefighter suffered non-life-threatening injuries to his arm and was transported by Escambia County EMS to Atmore Community Hospital where he was treated and released. Long and his mother were not injured.
The driver of the RV, later identified as 47-year-old Robert Timothy Long, age 47 of Pace, allegedly resisted a law enforcement officer on scene after Escambia County Animal Control arrived.
Long appeared to be very distraught and was holding the second dog, a pit bull, by the leash and refused to let the dog get out of arm’s reach, according to an arrest report.
“Long was already known to be a sovereign citizen and did not cooperate with law enforcement,” the report states, and he ignored multiple commands to move.
When a trooper attempted to speak with Long, he became “extremely aggressive” and began cursing at the trooper and “tightly gripping the dog causing the dog to whine in pain”, the ECSO report continues. He was instructed to tie the dog to a tree but refused.
Long walked to the back of the property.
“Long placed his back against a metal garage door and placed his dog in front of him knowing that law enforcement was hesitant to detain him due to fear of being bit by his dog,” the deputy wrote.
“At one point Long sat back down and picked up a the end of a rake and when commanded to drop it, he complied. Long then picked up a plastic coffee can that was filled with dirt but again dropped it when commanded.”
“Due to the aggressive dog and Long not being compliant with law enforcement orders and fear of Long letting his dog go to attack an officer if we attempted to detain Long, I utilized my agency issued taser,” the deputy continued in his report. Long was then detained.
Long was booked into the Escambia County Jail Wednesday night on charges of resisting an officer without violence, felony intimidating or hindering law enforcement duties, and misdemeanor “dog owner reckless disregard”, according to jail records. He remained in jail mid-morning Thursday with bond set at $3,150.
Individuals reported that the RV had been in the ditch for several hours, since at least 2 p.m. Reports indicated that someone later reported it as a traffic accident with a trapped occupant about 5 p.m. There was a female occupant in the RV when first responders arrived that was unable to exit the RV due to its angle in the ditch and a pre-existing medical condition, but she was not “trapped”.
The southbound RV apparently left the roadway near Ashcraft Road and continued in the ditch for about one-quarter of a mile before coming to rest after striking a culvert past Hanks Road.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol are continuing their investigation.
Editor’s note: This story was updated to clarify that the dog was unleashed at the time of the time of the attack and shooting, according to information released Thursday morning by the ECSO. The story previously stated the dog was leashed when shot based upon preliminary information from the scene.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Judge Sides With County Clerk, Rules Escambia Commissioners’ Retirement Plan Is Unlawful
April 4, 2024
An Okaloosa County Circuit Court judge has ruled that a local retirement plan used by three Escambia County commissioners is unlawful.
Judge William Stone released a ruling Wednesday morning upholding a decision by Escambia County Clerk and Comptroller Pam Childers to withhold payments to the plan.
“It is not lawful for elected officers (e.g., county commissioners), to participate in the Local Plan,” Stone wrote in his ruling. “The County’s contributions to the Local Plan on behalf of county commissioners constitute unlawful compensation.”
Commissioner Steven Barry and Lumon May joined the plan in early 2021 after reelection in 2020. Former commissioner Robert Bender joined the plan shortly after his reelection in 2019.
On July 1, 2021, Childers reduced contributions to the local plan to 8.34% for the three commissioners. On January 1, 2022, Childers stopped making payments for the three county commissioners into the local plan.
Escambia County sued her to force her to make the contributions, contending the Childers did not have that authority under a state law from the 1990’s. The case went to trial in February, and the judge’s ruling Wednesday was the conclusion. Escambia County still has the right to appeal.
Stone agreed with the county’s assertion that the cost to taxpayers is exactly the same regardless of a commissioner’s participation in the local plan or FRS.
“The Court acknowledges the County’s argument that the cost to the County is the same under the Local Plan as in FRS,” Stone wrote. “However, that surface-level appeal cannot be the end of the inquiry.”
According to the ruling, the Florida Retirement System (FRS) required employer retirement contribution rate is 12.39%. In the court’s example, a commissioner serving three terms (12 years) with a salary of $98,501 annually would have an FRS contribution of $146,451.24. Under the local plan the county’s contribution rate for commissioners is 56.68%, which would amount to $693,604.68, or about 4.74 times more in accrued contributions than a commissioner who enrolled in FRS.
Stone noted that his ruling does not suggest that retirement plans constitute unlawful compensation, and that Childers “properly exercised discretion in ceasing to make the payments to the Local Plan”.
“The County Commission is disappointed in the ruling and is considering its options,” Andie Gibson, Escambia County public information officer, told NorthEscambia.com following the ruling.