Tate Aggies Fall 5-4 To West Florida (With Photo Gallery)
March 13, 2024
The Tate Aggies fell to the West Florida Jaguars 5-4 Tuesday night at Tate.
Cramer earned the win for the Jags, giving up three hits and a run in four and one-third innings while striking out three and walking none.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Neal Croom started on the mound for the Aggies. He went four and two-thirds innings, giving up four hits and one run, striking out four and walking five. Nate Conners took the loss for the Aggies. In one and one-third innings, he gave up two runs on two hits, struck out one and walked two.
Bray Touchstone put the Aggies on the board in the first inning with a homerun to center field, scoring two runs. Maddox Land had a solo home run to right field in the bottom of the night.
Ketch King went 2-4 for Tate, and Clif Quiggins went 3-5.
Adam Geiger led the Jags at the plate, going 3-5.
The Tate Aggies travel to Crestview on Wednesday, and West Florida will host Choctaw on Thursday.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Operation Kessel Run: 12 Accused Of Trying To Lure Minors For Sex In Escambia County
March 12, 2024
After a multi-agency investigation, 12 suspects were arrested and charged with seducing a minor to engage in sexual conduct, traveling to meet a minor for sexual activity and use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony, law enforcement announced Tuesday,.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden, the Escambia and Santa Rosa county sheriff’s offices, Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach police departments, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI), Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and U.S. Marshals Service participated in the operation.
During the multiday operation, suspects communicated with undercover investigators posing as juveniles. Each suspect was told they were communicating with a teenager, but chose to engage in sexually explicit conversations anyway, asking for lewd photos and discussing how they planned to be sexually active with the “child.” Following the conversations, the suspects drove to meet the investigators, thinking they were meeting 13 and 14-year old children to engage in sexual activity.
Those arrested were:
- Darryl Lamont Hart, 57, Pensacola, arrested arrested Feb. 23
- Clayton Patrick Costello, 37, Hoover, Alabama, arrested Feb. 24
- Randy Edgar Powell, 52, Pensacola, arrested Feb. 24
- Telvan Latrell Williams, 28, Mobile, Alabama, arrested Feb. 24
- Kriss Lashawn Gilmore, 31, Foley, Alabama, arrested Feb. 24
- Alex Michael Durlock, 24, Fort Walton Beach, arrested Feb. 25
- Jordan Christopher Belton, 28, Pensacola, arrested Feb. 25
- Raphael Rochelle Brooks, 39, Robertsdale, Alabama, arrested Feb. 25
- William John Nordstrom, 64, Pensacola, arrested Feb. 25
- Eric Wintin Long, 33, Montgomery, Alabama, arrested Feb. 26
- Patrick Jay Dehnel, 33, Slidell, Louisiana, arrested Feb. 28
- Jamaine Antonia Johnson, 32, Pensacola, arrested March 4
All were booked into the Escambia County Jail.
“These suspects asked for lewd photos and communicated in graphic sexual terms. Luckily our FDLE agents and analysts, along with our partners, found them before they found our children. And while this operation is finished, we are not. The work of these investigators continues because we know there are more predators out there just waiting for the opportunity to hurt a child,” FDLE Pensacola Special Agent in Charge Chris Williams said.
“The “Kessel Run” joint operation is an example of law enforcement partnerships, enabling the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) to leverage combined expertise and effort, to target online sexual predators who attempt to prey on our communities. NCIS thanks the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, federal and state agencies, and local partners for the continued collaboration on impactful joint internet operations to protect the communities where our warfighters and their families reside,” said NCIS Supervisory Special Agent Myles Roy.
“Working together, the FBI and our local law enforcement partners have prevented these predators from victimizing the most innocent and vulnerable members of our community,” said FBI Jacksonville’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Mark Dargis. “Let these arrests be a warning to others – law enforcement will not tolerate the exploitation of children, and we will be relentless in our efforts to identify and locate predators who seek to abuse them.”
“These predators preyed on the innocence of children by knowingly engaging in lewd and lascivious online conduct, only to take it a step further and agreeing to meet in person and turn those conversations into action,” said Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “Operation Kessel Run was a successful joint investigation, but there is still more work that must be done. HSI, alongside our law enforcement partners, will never rest in identifying, investigating, and prosecuting predators who seek to use children for their perverse behaviors and make them lifelong victims.”
Republican Early Voting Turnout Apporaching 10% In Escambia County
March 12, 2024
Early voter turnout for the Republican Presidential Preference Primary in Escambia County was approaching 10% as polling places closed Monday ay evening.
There are 94,864 eligible Republican voters in Escambia County, and as of Tuesday turnout was 9.65%, or 9,150.
The busiest early voting location since last Saturday has been the Escambia County Extension Office in Cantonment with 536 early voters. The quietest has been the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century with just 19 early voters over two voting days.
Early voting will continue through Saturday, March 16 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the following 10 locations:
- Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A North, Molino
- Billy G. Ward Courthouse, 7500 N. Century Blvd, Pensacola
- Escambia County Extension Services, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, 11000 University Parkway, Room 235, Pensacola
- Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor, Pensacola
- Main Library, 239 N. Spring Street, Pensacola
- Pensacola State College Building 17, 1000 College Pkwy, Pensacola
- Southwest Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
- Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto Street, Pensacola
- Bellview Library, 6425 Mobile Highway, Pensacola
The Presidential Preference Primary is only available to voters registered in the Republican party. Florida is a closed primary state, which means voters can only vote in the party in which they are registered for primary elections.
Take Stock in Children Accepting Applications From 6the And 7th Graders
March 12, 2024
Escambia County middle schools will be accepting applications for Take Stock in Children from eligible sixth and seventh grade students until April 24.
Take Stock in Children is a statewide program operating locally under the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation, providing “college scholarships, mentors and hope” to deserving low-income students.
Applications are available from each middle school’s guidance office or can be printed from the Escambia School District Website at https://www.escambiaschools.org/ .
Students are selected in middle school through an application process based on financial need. Students must be U.S. citizens, meet income eligibility requirements, have grades of all C or better, and maintain good school attendance and behavior.
If selected, students and a parent sign an agreement that the student will remain drug-and crime-free, maintain good grades and behavior, and graduate high school. Graduates of the Take Stock in Children program earn a Florida Prepaid College Foundation Project STARS scholarship to help alleviate the cost of college.
The program benefits students by providing support services through a volunteer mentor who meets with the student weekly at the school, a college success coach who monitors student progress, and college readiness workshops.
Currently there are 147 Take Stock in Children students in grades 7-12, 70 in college, and there have been 153 college graduates to date. Statewide 97% of Take Stock students complete high school, 92% enroll in college, and 70% receive a college degree.
For more information about the application process, becoming a mentor, or donating toward scholarships, contact Sally Lee, Take Stock in Children Student Services Coordinator, 850-469-5458, slee@ecsdfl.us.
Local Unemployment Rate Increases
March 12, 2024
FloridaCommerce announced Monday that the Pensacola metro area private sector employment increased by 3.3% (+5,500 new jobs). The Pensacola area’s unemployment rate was 3.4% in January 2024, a 0.5 percentage point increase from the January 2023 rate of 2.9%.
FloridaCommerce announced that the Pensacola area labor force increased by 8,022, a 3.4% increase over the year in January 2024. The industries gaining the most jobs over the year were leisure and hospitality increasing, by 1,500 jobs; and education and health services, increasing by 1,300 jobs.
Florida’s private sector job growth rate increased by 0.4% (+37,900 jobs) in January 2024, double the national rate of 0.2% over the same period. Florida’s economic data continues to indicate economic stability and confidence among Florida’s workforce as the state’s labor force grew by 2.2% (+243,000) over the year in January 2024, faster than the national over-the-year rate of 0.8%, including 16,000 net new workforce participants in January 2024.
Florida’s statewide unemployment rate has been lower than the national rate for 39 consecutive months. The national unemployment rate was 3.7% for January 2024, 0.6 percentage point higher than Florida’s rate.
Jim Allen Elementary Names Students Of The Month
March 12, 2024
Jim Allen Elementary School recently named their February Students Of The Month. They are Ryleigh Brown and AJ Glodfelter. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Woman Sentenced To 30 Years For Trafficking Meth In Escambia County
March 12, 2024
A Gulf Breeze woman has been sentenced to 30 years in state prison for trafficking methamphetamine in Escambia County.
Angela Anderson was recently sentenced after being convicted in January. She . She must serve a minimum mandatory of 15 years in prison.
The Pensacola Police Department stopped Anderson in January 2023 for an expired registration in Escambia County, and a K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics in her vehicle. Oer 200 grams of methamphetamine were found in the center console.
During sentencing, the state argued that methamphetamine is one of Florida’s “most dangerous drugs and is destroying our communities. Judge Simon took note that the defendant had two hundred and seventeen grams of methamphetamine in her possession and was transporting that methamphetamine for sale to the citizens of Escambia County,” the State Attorney’s Office said.
Northview Beats Baker 5-2, Tate Tops Fort Walton
March 12, 2024
Monday night, the Northview Chiefs beeat Baker, and the Tate Aggies topped Fort Walton.
Northview 5, Baker 2
Jamison Gilman struck out 10 Baker batters as the Northview Chiefs beat the Gators 5-2 Monday on a cool evening in Bratt.
Gilman gave up five hits and a run while walking two in six innings.
Fore more photos from Baker at Northview, click here.
Mikayl McAnnally pitched one inning in relief for the Chiefs, allowing two hits, one run and striking out three.
Gilan was 2-4 at the plate to lead the Chiefs at bat. McAnnally, Chloe Ragsdale, Daviona Randolph, and Riley Brooks drove in one run each.
Northview stole seven total bases during the game, with Gilman and Brooks stealing multiple bases.
Choctaw will be at Northview on Thursday, and the Lady Chiefs will travel to Jay Friday night.
Tate 6, Fort Walton 4
The Tate Lady Aggies beat Fort Walton Beach 6-4 Monday night in Cantonment.
Jordan Smith earned the win for the Aggies in seven innings, surrendering nine hits and four runs while striking out one and walking two.
At bat for Tate, Peyton Womack led with three hits with four at bats. Kara Wine had three RBIs. and Smith was 2-4.
The Lady Aggies will host Pine Forest on Tuesday and travel to Niceville on Thursday.
Pictured above and below: The Northview Chiefs beat Baker 5-2 Monday night in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle School Names Students Of The Month
March 11, 2024
Ransom Middle School has named their February Students of the Month. They are Dominic Gill and Gabriella Langham. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Group Living Facility Proposed For Molino
March 11, 2024
A group living facility acility is being proposed for Molino.
The facility would be located on 5.12 acres at 599 Meharg Road at the corner of Highway 95A.
According to a conditional use application filed with the Escambia County Development Review Committee, owner Austin Conner is seeking a conditional use for an existing 8,074 square foot home as phase one of the facility.
The second phase would entail the additional “guest home for additional space for group residents”, acording to the application.
The application does not specify how the facility will be used other than “adult family care facility” and “group living facility”.
