Multiple People Injured When Vehicle Collides Head-On With ECAT Bus
February 15, 2024
Multiple people were injured when a vehicle collided with an Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) bus Wednesday afternoon in Pensacola.
The vehicle was traveling north of North W Street when the driver failed to maintain a single lane of travel and collided head-on with the bus near Truman Avenue, according to the Floria Highway Patrol.
The 58-year old driver of the vehicle was transported to the hospital in critical condition. There were 14 people on the bus, and FHP said multiple occupants were transported by EMS with minor injuries.
Man Charged With Burglary With Battery After Incident At Century Whataburger
February 15, 2024
A Flomaton man has been charged after allegedly attempting to pull a Century Whataburger employee out of his vehicle outside the restaurant.
John Randoph Albritton, 38 was charged with felony burglary with assault or battery. He was booked into jail with bonds set at $25,000.
The victim told the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office that Albritton is his ex-roommate and entered the restaurant asking if they were going to fight. The victim went outside because it was time for him to get off from work, and Albritton ran up to his truck, opened the door, grabbed his arm and attempted to pull the victim out, according to an arrest report. Due to Albirtton’s actions, the victim took his foot off the brake and his truck ran into a pole in front of the Whataburger on North Century Boulevard, damaging his truck.
Deputies were unable to locate Albritton immediately following the February 3 incident, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Escambia Public Schools Offering Free Online Tutoring Services
February 15, 2024
Escambia County Public Schools is partnering with Tutor Me, an online service that provides one-on-one, on-demand, live tutoring and writing support in certain subject areas, at no cost to ECPS students.
Tutoring will be available every day of the week 3-10 p.m. and is accessible through the Core App Dashboard on the ECPS website.
The TutorMe award-winning Lesson Space replicates all the best parts of in-person learning, including face-to-face collaboration through optional live audio and video. TutorMe’s thriving community of tutors includes thousands of certified teachers, professionals, advanced-degree holders, and other subject matter experts, all of whom have been thoroughly vetted and background-checked.
In addition to live tutoring sessions, students will also have access to paper and essay review services through the TutorMe Writing Lab.
Elementary (K-5) Subjects:
- Math
- Science
- ELA
- Social Studies
Secondary Subjects (6-12):
- Basic Math
- Pre-Algebra
- Algebra
- Geometry
- ELA
- Writing
- Biology
- US History Civics
Atmore Man Killed In Traffic Crash
February 14, 2024
A traffic crash north of Atmore claimed the life of a local man Monday morning.
Wednesday morning, Alabama state troopers said 87-year old Ellis K. Lee was fatally injured when the 2019 Chevrolet Suburban he was driving was struck by the 2014 Kenworth tractor-trailer driven by Patrick M. Bankester, 56, of Bay Minette. Ellis was pronounced deceased at the scene. The crash occurred on Jack Springs Road near I-65,about three miles north of Atmore at about 10:50 a.m. Monday.
The investigation is continuing.
FDOT To Install Traffic Signal At Nine Mile Road, Ashland Avenue Intersection
February 14, 2024
The Florida Department of Transportation will install a traffic signal at the intersection of Nine Mile Road and Ashland Avenue, Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry announced during a town hall meeting this week.
Barry said Escambia County will be responsible for the cost to construct a new left turn lane on Ashland Avenue.
“That’s what we have to do to get a light there; we certainly need one,” Barry said. “That’s the closest they (FDOT) are going to allow a light to Pine Forest on Nine Mile. We’ll take what we can get. It’s a good thing.”
A timeline for completion is not yet available as FDOT works to get the parts required for the signal installation.
Pictured: Looking south from Ashland Avenue across the intersection of Nine Mile Road. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Barry Discusses Development And Concurrency During Town Hall
February 14, 2024
During a town hall meeting this week, Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said it may be time for the commission to talk more about concurrency in development.
Concurrency is the principle that public facilities and services necessary to support a proposed development should be available, or be made available, concurrent with the impacts of the development.
“Where are these students going to go, and Where are the roads going to come from,” Barrineau Park resident Bonnie Exner (pictured left) asked.
‘I don’t know where the kids are going to go to school,” Barry responded. “I know there’s a conversation with the school board district right now about parceling out a portion of OLF-8 for a K-8 school. There’s conversations about a new school in the north Cantonment- Quintette area.”
He said concurrency was removed out of the Escambia County Comprehensive Plan when it was no longer required by the state, around 1993.
“It is something that the board has discussed a little bit in the last year. It may be the time to begin having a little more of that conversation about some concurrency. It’s something that potentially adds cost to development; the majority of folks in my opinion that are doing development are trying to put a good product on the ground.”
For more town hall pictures, click or tap here.
Other residents that attended the District 5 town hall at the Langley Bell 4-H Center in Cantonment expressed concerns about traffic, code enforcement and drainage issues.
NorthEscambia.ocm photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Gets Life In Prison For Attempted Murder
February 14, 2024
An 18-year old Escambia County man has been sentenced to life in prison for shooting a woman in the head last year.
Ryan Earl Seals was sentenced to life in prison by Circuit Judge Coleman Lee Robinson following his conviction for attempted second degree murder by an Escambia County Jury during a two-day trial.
On the afternoon of April 7, 2023, Seals and two others fired handguns at a home on Potomac Drive in Mayfair. After the initial volley, the suspects drove around the block and returned to the residence. Seals fired an additional five times before driving away. During the hail of gunfire, a 28 year-old woman was shot in the head. Despite suffering a grievous and permanent injury, she survived, prosecutors said.
Later that day, the suspect vehicle was located passing through Attucks Court. Seals was driving and led the police on a high-speed chase. After Seals crashed the vehicle, he fled on foot. During the foot chase, Seals was visibly armed with a firearm which was recovered. Forensic testing confirmed this was the firearm used to shoot the five rounds in the Mayfair gunfire incident.
The jury also convicted Seals of Shooting from a vehicle, fleeing to elude law enforcement at high speed with lights and siren activated, and resisting an officer without violence. Judge Robinson sentenced him to serve concurrent terms of incarceration for those counts.
55-Gallon ‘Unknown’ Drums Removed From Century Water Well Site And Destroyed
February 14, 2024
According to a filing Tuesdaywith the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), four “unknown substance” 55-gallong drums have been identified, removed from a Century water well site, and destroyed.
In a January 30 warning letter, FDEP cited a possible violation after finding four 55-gallon drums on-site at the town’s Well #1 on Blackmon Street that had been there for at least four years with ” unknown substance” inside.
An account manager for the Layne Christensen Company, said in an email Tuesday to the town and FDEP that samples appeared to be the “same vegetable grade oil that was bailed from Well #1 when it was changed to water lubrication.” The barrels were removed and disposed of properly.
FDEP identified 34 other potential violations of Florida statutes and codes. Other findings included improper safety equipment, insufficient chlorine in the water, an emergency plan dated 2012, and that laboratory and other data was being falsified. A daily log sheet was pre-filled by the town’s operator with sampling results before the sampling analysis was conducted, FDEP said. The town has hired an attorney to respond to the remainder of the FDEP warning letter.
‘He’ll Be Dead By The Time They Get Here’ – Residents Say Escambia EMS Units Often Unavailable In Walnut Hill, Century
February 13, 2024
“He’ll be dead by the time they get here” – that’s how Bennie Davis of Walnut Hill described what his wife told a 911 operator as the couple waited for an Escambia County EMS ambulance to respond from Pensacola to his home near Walnut Hill as he was having a heart attack.
Davis did receive care from the volunteers from the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue. He was eventually flown to the hospital by medical helicopter and has since recovered.
District 5 Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry has publicly said EMS units would be stationed at the EMS facility in Century and at the Walnut Hill Fire Station — just over two miles from Davis’s home. Barry has said the EMS units would remain at those posts, unless responding to calls in the Molino, Walnut Hill or Century areas.
During a District 5 town hall meeting Monday night in Cantonment, multiple residents told Commissioner Steven Barry that county ambulances are often not available in the far north end of the county because they are pulled south to answer calls elsewhere in the county.
“This is getting unacceptable,” Josh Edwards said. “It’s not happening once or twice; it’s happening more times than a lot. We need something done that we have a staff ambulance up there. I mean I realize we’ve waited and waited on (ambulances from) Pensacola but still it’s not a good situation when you don’t know if you’re going to live or die and nobody is there to help you.
Just recently, Edward’s father was down and in need of an ambulancee at his home on Oakshade Road, near Northview High School, and Edwards said no Escambia County EMS unit was available to respond. He said Walnut volunteer firefighters requested a MedStar EMS to respond from Atmore.
“One of the things that was important when we expanded (Escambia County) EMS was having a unit that would be stationed at Walnut Hill everyday,” Barry (pictured left) said. “I thought that it was staying. They started everyday up there; it turns out they weren’t staying up there. When there was a need, they were getting called to town. ”
Barry said after learning the units were being pulled south, he had numerous conversations with Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore and County Administrator West Moreno, and thought the situation had been rectified.
“If it’s the first call you’ve had that day and no one is there to respond; that’s the part that is unacceptable,” Barry added, noting that GPS and call records could be pulled to find out where the units have been and for how long.
“I knew it was a problem and became a problem, and I really thought after a handful of conversations it was addressed.”
“We thought that it was addressed,” Moreno (pictured left) said.”When that ambulance (in Walnut Hill) moves, I get a text message on my phone. I can log in and see where it goes and when it comes back. I’ve been doing that pretty regularly.”
“That’s unacceptable and that’s not going to continue. Something will happen as a result of the meeting tonight,” Barry said.
“We try to keep the ambulances up there; one in Century, one in Walnut Hill,” Gilmore (pictured below) said. He said during the incident involving Edwards’ father on Oakshade Road; both of the EMS units were on calls in the Molino area, one on Brickton road, and on Cedartown Road.
Gilmore noted that the commission has approved 18 additional EMS employees — nine medics and nine EMTS — that they are looking to hire right now. In addition, eight l EMS units are on order and are set to arrive in late February or early March.
Pictured top inset: Walnut Hill resident Bennie Davis speaks during a District 5 town hall meeting Monday evening in Cantonment. Pictured top:An Escambia County EMS unit at the Walnut Hill Fire Station. NorthEsambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Prison Carpentry Program Building Future For Inmates
February 13, 2024
Century Correctional Institution recently celebrated the latest inmate group to complet the Home Builders Institute’s 12-week carpentry program that is buiding hope for a brighter future for inmates.
The program, in partnership with the Home Builders Institute, provides hands-on experience in reading construction plans, estimating material and labor costs, and learning about job site safety. Graduates of the program receive industry certifications, which prepares them for success upon their reentry into their communities.
The Florida Department of Corrections said the department prioritizes rehabilitation and vocational training in order to improve public safety, reduce victimization, and facilitate the successful reintegration of inmates into society.
“Century Correctional Institution is proud to have a collaboration with Home Builders Institute. We’ve seen such a drastic improvement in the men in the 12 short weeks that they are in the program” Century CI Warden Kelly Watkins said.
“The program is going to give me the opportunity to change my lifestyle outside on the streets and give me a better future,”one inmate program participant said with a slight smile. “I’m going to be a better provider for my family and give me better reasons to stay away from this place.
“I get to see a transformation in their teamwork,” William Stark. Home Builders Institute instructor, said. “So when they come into this class, they’re very much by themselves. And as we go, they learn that they can ask questions and that this is a learning environment. This is not an environment that they’re used to. So they get to learn and grow and have fun, and hopefully prosper.”
