Man Arrested On Multiple Charges After Manhunt In Cottage Hill
August 22, 2024
A man is facing multiple charges following a manhunt Monday night in Cottage Hill.
Jeremy Edward Byrd, 48, was charged with resisting an office and felony possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. He was also arrested on an outstanding warrant after his bond was revoked in a 2022 case involving charges of trafficking in fentanyl, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of cocaine.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy spotted Byrd riding a bicycle on Virecfent Road near Cottage Hill Road. The deputy had been looking for Byrd on an outstanding warrant, with knowledge that he was staying at an address in the 100 block of Cottage Hill Road.
The deputy rolled his windows down and told Byrd to stop, but Byrd picked up speed. The deputy pulled his vehicle in front of the bicycle, but Byrd drove into a ditch.
“Due to the facts that Jeremy Byrd was actively fleeing, refused to stop and was about to enter a wooded area where he could escape and I was by myself, I utilized my agency-issued taser,” the deputy wrote in the arrest report that was released Wednesday. The taser probes missed due to bushes. The deputy saw Byrd enter a wooded area and flee toward Crowndale Road. Other deputies and a K-9 unit responded.
Byrd was located in a muddy area, lying down with his arms under his body. He refused multiple commands to give the deputy his arms, the report states, and the deputy used a closed fist strike to the bicep area to gain control and restrain Byrd.
The report states that a black bag located under Byrd contained a baggie that contained a substance that field test positive for methamphetamine, along with a syringe and other drug paraphernalia.
Byrd was not injured in the incident.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Atmore Woman Arrested On Florida Vehicle Theft Warrant
August 22, 2024
Atmore police officers investigating a domestic disturbance report arrested a local woman wanted on an outstanding warrant from Escambia County, Florida.
The Atmore Police Department arrived on West Oak Street and discovered that Cecelia Penn Andrews, 61, had an outstanding Florida warrant for vehicle theft.
Andrews was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center without bond to await extradition to Escambia County, Florida.
Cantonment Man Cited, SUV Catches Fire After Crash
August 22, 2024
A Cantonment man was cited following a traffic crash in Bellview Wednesday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the 19-year-old was driving a Chevrolet Equinox north on Mobile Highway and failed to stop for stopped traffic, striking a GMC pickup truck driven by a 51-year old Pensacola man. The collision pushed the GMC into a Chevrolet Tahoe driven by a 63-year-old Georgia man.
Following the crash, the Cantonment’s man Chevrolet Equinox caught fire,
Trooper said no one was injured.
Six-Run Fourth Sinks Wahoos in Loss to Smokies
August 22, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos continued their struggles against the Tennessee Smokies on Wednesday night, falling in a 10-6 final after two early leads slipped away.
The Blue Wahoos have now dropped 7 of 8 games this season to the defending league champions, and two in a row to begin their six-game road series.
With the loss, the Blue Wahoos again failed to put pressure on the first-place Biloxi Shuckers. The Blue Wahoos now trail the Shuckers by 1.5 games with 22 to play, pending the results of Biloxi’s game in Birmingham.
The Blue Wahoos briefly held a pair of early leads, taking a 2-1 edge on solo homers from Nathan Martorella and Johnny Olmstead in the second and a 3-2 lead on a Joe Mack RBI single in the third.
Olmstead’s homer was his first at the Double-A level, and began a 3-for-4 night. Mack’s RBI was his Southern League-leading 60th of the season.
Pensacola starter Luis Palacios (L, 8-6) was uncharacteristically shaky, tying a career high with 10 hits allowed and setting a new career high with four walks. The Smokies turned the game around with a six-run fourth, turning a 3-2 deficit into an 8-3 Tennessee lead. The Blue Wahoos left allowed eight runs, seven earned, over 3.1 innings.
The Smokies got their starter, Antonio Santos (W, 7-3), through 5.0 innings despite a high pitch count. The Blue Wahoos added on three runs against the Tennessee bullpen, getting RBI doubles from Jakob Marsee and Jared Serna in the sixth and a solo homer from Graham Pauley in the ninth, but it wasn’t enough to come back.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Smokies on Thursday. First pitch from Smokies Stadium is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CT, with a live audio broadcast beginning at 6:55 p.m. ET/5:55 p.m. CT.
Highway 4 Bridge Opening Delayed By Wrong Paint
August 21, 2024
It’s been delayed again.
The Highway 4 bridge over Canoe Creek will not open this week as originally anticipated.
The Florida Department of Transportation told NorthEscambia.com last week that that the bridge is complete, but there were a just few minor items that need to be fixed prior to traffic being allowed across the bridge. But it’s turning out to be a little more complicated.
Tuesday, Escambia County officials said they had been notified that the bridge likely won’t open until next week. They said the wrong type of reflective paint was used on the bridge and the roadway approaches, and it must be corrected to meet FDOT requirements and pass inspection. The painted lines are also not straight, and there is spilled paint along in the area.
And that will require contractor Murphree Bridge Corporation to move equipment back to the site in order to grind away the wrong paint and repaint the lines.
With previous contract extensions due to weather, the contractor has until September 1 to open the $4 million bridge without penalty.
The new bridge replaces an 81-year-old structure that hat was closed on July 10, 2023, with traffic between Bratt and Century detoured.
Pictured: The Highway 4 bridge over Canoe Creek on Tuesday afternoon, August 21. NorthEsscmabia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tom Harrell Wins Escambia County School Board District 5 Seat
August 21, 2024
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Tom Harrell has been elected to the Escambia County School Board District 5 seat.
Harrell garnered 59.06% of the votes in the non-partisan race. Challenger Jim Taylor received 28.96% of the vote, and Josh Luther received 11.98% with all precincts reporting.
“I want to thank the voters of District 5 for their tremendous support. I am humbled and honored to represent our community” Harrell told NorthEscambia.com Tuesday night. “Children first in all decisions!”
Now retired, Harrell was a teacher at Ransom Middle School and served as principal at Escambia Westgate School and Lipscomb Elementary School. He was named both a principal of the year and teacher of the year for the Escambia County School District.
He has been a resident of District 5 since 1975.
To learn more about Tom Harrell, in his own words, click here for his NorthEscambia.com candidate survey, which was published prior to the election.
Jay High Teacher Beats Incumbent Santa Rosa County Commissioner Calkins
August 21, 2024
A Jay High School teacher has defeated the incumbent for a seat on the Santa Rosa County Commission.
Rhett Rowell received 11,979 (43.53%) votes. Jerry Couey finished second with 7,872 (28.61%), while incumbent James Calkins had 7,668 (27.86%).
Rowell is a native of Santa Rosa County and is a social studies teacher at Jay High, his alma mater.
Rowell will not face a Democrat in November, but he will appear on the ballot due to two qualified write-in candidates.
Steve Stroberger Wins District 1 Commission Seat, Ousting Jeff Bergosh
August 21, 2024
Steve Stroberger has won the Escambia County Commission District 1 seat, ousting incumbent Jeff Bergosh.
In a three-way race, Stroberger received 4,793 votes (54%). Bergosh had 3,260 votes (37%), while Jesse Casey received 795 (9%).
“This wasn’t the result I expected, nor is it the one I anticipated, but the District 1 voters have spoken and they have elected new leadership to take this district in a new direction, Bergosh said. “I will work with the new commissioner elect over the next several months to ensure a smooth transition in November. I’ll be taking tonight with my family and will have no more comment on this election this evening. I’ve already called and have spoken personally to Mr. Stroberger to congratulate him on his victory.”
Stroberger is a retired Navy office and marine. He worked in the private sector primarily in the aerospace and defense industries.
Bergosh has served on the Escambia County Commission since 2016, following 10 years on the Escambia County School Board.
Gaetz Easily Beats McCarthy-Backed Challenger Dimmock
August 21, 2024
Congressman Matt Gaetz was reelected Tuesday to represent Florida’s First Congressional District.
Gaetz received about 73% of the vote to challenger Aaron Dimmock’s 27%. Dimmock, a retired Navy officer, was backed by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
“It’s traditional in moments like these with margins of victory like this that you hear from your opponents,” Gaetz told supporters in a video posted to social media about 8:30 Tuesday night. “I have not yet heard from Aaron Dimmock, or Kevin McCarthy this evening. Kevin McCarthy spent $3 million in this race, not attacking my votes or my work on your behalf but simply trying to attack my character. Three million dollars. Three years ago, I got 70% of the vote, and tonight it looks like we’re getting 73% of the vote. So Kevin, if you are watching, spend a little more next time and we’ll get to 80.”
“It goes without saying that this was not the result we had hoped for,” Dimmock said in a social media post. “Running as a first time candidate against a powerful career politician is never easy, but I was honored to have the opportunity to be that alternative.”
Gaetz will now face Democrat Gay Valimont in November in a district that typically leans heavily Republican.
Pictured: Rep. Matt Gaetz during an appearance in Jay. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Ashlee Hofberger Wins Republican Primary For District 4 Escambia Commission
August 21, 2024
Ashlee Hofberger is the winner of the Republican Primary for the District 4 Seat on the Escambia County Commission.
The District 4 seat has been vacant since Robert Bender was appointed Supervisor of Elections in January. Gov. Ron DeSantis had the power to appoint a replacement but chose not to do so.
“I am so excited, beyond grateful to everyone that volunteered, and contributed, and everyone that got out and voted today.” she said after the win. “Thank you.”
“I believe our government’s top priority is to keep us safe,” she added. “And when you pick up the phone to call 911, the person who responds should have the tools and the skills to fix whatever emergency you are in. And I want to make sure that our firefighters and our EMTs and our law enforcement have the resources so they can do that.”
Hofberger is owner of The Wash Room laundromat and Bogeys Golf Suites. In 2012, she opened the emergency restoration firm Complete DKI and later sold it to the national company First Onsite in 2021.
She received 3,143 votes, or 38%. Walker Wilson had 2,735 (33%), and Buck Mitchell garnered 2,483 (30%).
Hofberger will still face Democratic candidate Ron Helms in November.