Byrneville Elementary School Names Students Of The Month
December 27, 2023
Byrneville Elementary School recently named their November Studens of the Month. They are:
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Confessed Home Depot Killer Appeals Conviction And Life Sentence
December 27, 2023
A man that confessed last week and was convicted in an Escambia County Home Depot murder and sentenced to life in prison last week has already filed an appeal.
Keith Agee, 20, filed a notice of appeal on December 21 to the District Court of Appeals, First District, State of Florida, the day after he confessed and was sentenced by Judge Coleman Robinson.
The basis for the appeal is not mentioned in a filed notice in court records.
Agee took the stand and confessed to the murder, saying it was his intent. He said he tested positive for a sexually transmitted disease after becoming intimate with Sims. He testified that he was angry, hurt and felt betrayed. In reality, prosecutors said she did not have an STD.
Agee’s mother Sheila is also facing a first degree accessory to premeditated murder charge because, according to authorities, she knew of Agee’s plan and aided him. She will go to trial in February.
Free Dog And Cat Adoptions At The Escambia Animal Shelter Until Dec. 31
December 27, 2023
The Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare will continue its adoption special through the remainder of 2023.
During the event, adoptions for all cats and dogs 1 year or older will be free. Puppies will be available for $50 and kittens will be available for $25. An $11 licensing fee will be applied to all adoptions for Escambia County residents. View all adoptable pets at the Animal Welfare and Adoption Center on 24petconnect.com.
“We had an incredible response to our ‘Empty the Shelters’ holiday campaign with BISSELL Pet Foundation,” said John Robinson, Director for the Department of Animal Welfare. “We are excited to be able to continue our free adoption special during the holidays. We hope our community will come out and take advantage of this opportunity to bring a pet home this holiday season.”
For questions or more information, the public may call the Department of Animal Welfare at 850-595-3075.
The Animal Welfare and Adoption Center, located at 200 W. Fairfield Dr., is open Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays from 12-4 p.m. The facility will be closed for the holidays on Jan. 1 and 2.
ECSO Mounted Unit’s Shannon Enderson Named A State Volunteer of the Year
December 26, 2023
Shannon Enderson, a member of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Unit, has been named the Florida Crime Prevention Association’s Volunteer of the Year.
In the mounted unit, she devotes many hours engaging with our community. She is also a huge part of ECSO programs, such as the Citizen’s Law Enforcement Academy and the Neighborhood Watch Academy.
“It’s an honor to be chosen as the Crime Prevention Association Volunteer of the Year. I love helping where it is needed,” Enderson said. “I enjoy meeting new people in the community and meeting the children all around our county. The children of the future are in our hands in the present. It is our responsibility to help them grow and show them the right way. This is a big part of why I volunteer, to show our youth that it is ok to do good things for free.”
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Century Correctonal Inmate Assaulted Officer, FDC Says
December 26, 2023
A Century Correctional Institution inmate assaulted a correctional officer recently, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
Inmate Len Cotney assaulted a correctional officer by pulling the officer’s arm, and the incident was captured on camera, according to FDC.
Cotney was serving a 10-year sentence out of Hillsborough County for charges including robbery with a gun, witness tampering, and fleeing and eluding.
FWC Law Enforcement Report: Hunting Violations
December 26, 2023
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following recent activity:
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Land was patrolling Yellow River Wildlife Management Area and conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that was operating without a tag displayed. Officer Land detected the strong smell of cannabis from the vehicle. He received consent from the operator to look in the vehicle and located drug paraphernalia. The owner was cited for the violations.
Officer Land was patrolling Blackwater Wildlife Management Area and located an individual hunting with a centerfire rifle before the general gun season opened. The subject was not wearing fluorescent orange and did not possess a quota permit for Blackwater WMA. The subject was cited for the violation.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Burkhead was patrolling Blackwater Wildlife Management Area when he heard shotguns being fired prior to legal shooting hours in an area that is commonly used for waterfowl hunting. Officer Burkhead located the individuals who were shooting and verified they were waterfowl hunting. One of the individuals hid a shotgun and later admitted he was hunting waterfowl that morning without his federal duck stamp or other permits required to hunt waterfowl. Officer Burkhead charged the individuals for hunting waterfowl prior to legal shooting hours. Officer Burkhead charged the other individual for hunting waterfowl without a federal duck stamp and wrote citations for the permit violations.
Officer Burkhead was conducting resource inspections on duck hunters at Smith’s Fish Camp. Upon checking a group of individuals, he found one of the subjects to be hunting waterfowl with a shotgun capable of holding more than three rounds. Officer Burkhead cited the individual for hunting waterfowl with an unplugged shotgun.
Officers Burkhead, Lugg, Wilkenson, and Lieutenant Corbin were conducting resource inspections in Blackwater Wildlife Management Area. They conducted an inspection on an individual driving on a Florida Forest Service maintained road and found the individual to be in possession of deer meat with high-risk parts such as bone from a deer harvested outside of Florida. The individual was also not in possession of any sex identification along with the meat he was transporting. Officer Burkhead issued a notice to appear citation for possessing or importing deer, elk, moose or caribou carcasses or high-risk parts from anywhere outside of Florida. He wrote a written warning for not being in possession of sex identification for the deer he was transporting.
This report represents some events the FWC handled during the time period; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Tuesday Is A Christmas Holiday For Most Government Agencies
December 26, 2023
Today, December 26, is a holiday for most government agencies.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
In observance of Christmas, the following Escambia County offices will be closedTuesday, Dec. 26, 2023.
- Escambia County Board of County Commissioners - all departments including:
- West Florida Public Libraries (all locations)
- Escambia County Property Appraiser
- Escambia County Tax Collector
- Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare
- Escambia County Supervisor of Elections
- Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
- Escambia County Extension Office
- Waste Services Administration
- Escambia County Area Transit Administration and Customer Service
Notes and exceptions:
note:
- On Tuesday, Dec. 26, Clerk’s official Records, Finance and Clerk to the Board offices will be closed. All Clerk’s offices at the MC Blanchard Judicial Building, Theodore Bruno Juvenile Building, Century Courthouse and Public Records Center will be open.
- The Perdido Landfill will reopen Tuesday, Dec. 26.
- ECAT Customer Service will reopen Tuesday, Dec. 26.
- The UWF express trolley will resume service Saturday, Jan. 6. The UWF campus trolleys will resume service Monday, Jan. 8.
CENTURY
The Century Town Hall will be closed Tuesday, Deccember 26.
ECUA
ECUA will collect all residential customers on their normal day during the Christmas And New Year’s Holiday period, except:
New Year’s Day – Monday, Jan. 1, 2024: Collection will be made on Sat. Dec. 30.
Pictured: Palafox Place on a rainy December day. Photo by Kathy Boyle for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Rotary: Collecting Presents For Needy Kids; Water Safety Book Distribution Continues
December 26, 2023
Submitted
The Rotary Club of Cantonment collected a large number of toys at their recent Christmas party, and in turn, donated them to The Birthday Party organization. The Birthday Party will pass them out to girls and boys who are unable to have a birthday party for various reasons.
John Ham,from the Birthday Party organization says that the kids are so excited to receive these gifts and are very grateful to have a party on their birthday.
Another activity Cantonment Rotary has been doing the last few weeks has been involved with all the kindergarten classes from the 10 elementary schools north of Nine Mile Road, including Beulah and Ensley Elementary. So far, over 750 copies of Josh the Otter have been distributed to all kindergartners along with a coloring book. These two books emphasize the importance of water safety.
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AG, FHP and Local Law Enforcement Leaders Warn About the Dangers of Impaired Driving this Holiday Season
December 26, 2023
In recognition of National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, Attorney General Ashley Moody today warned Floridians that driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol this holiday season could result in a trip to jail—or the morgue. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Crash Dashboard reports more than 6,200 impaired-driving crashes occurred in 2022—leading to more than 1,100 fatalities.
During the holiday season, fatalities increase dramatically with nearly 160 fatalities in December last year. To prevent deaths, Florida Highway Patrol Colonel Gary Howze, Osceola County Sheriff Marco Lopez, Kissimmee Chief of Police Betty Holland, St. Cloud Chief of Police Douglas Goerke and Mothers Against Drunk Driving Central Florida Executive Director Kristi McElroy joined Attorney General Moody in Kissimmee to urge Floridians to drive responsibly this holiday season.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “National Impaired Driving Prevention Month serves as a critical reminder to be responsible on our roadways. Driving under the influence can shatter lives and devastate families. Law enforcement will have extra deputies, officers and troopers monitoring the roadways to help ensure Floridians remain safe throughout this holiday season. So please, drive sober or you will get pulled over.”
Florida Highway Patrol Colonel Gary Howze said, “Now through January 1st, law enforcement throughout Florida, including your FHP, will participate in the “Drive Sober, or Get Pulled Over” campaign. The goal is to proactively educate the public on the dangers and consequences of getting behind the wheel while impaired. The holiday season, when people are celebrating with friends and loved ones, increases the risk of impaired driving. With that increase, FHP and our law enforcement partners, will step up enforcement efforts to remove impaired drivers from Florida Roadways so everyone can Arrive Alive.”
Osceola County Sheriff Marco Lopez said, “We want Osceola County residents to know that our priority is to keep people safe. This is why we urge everyone to plan ahead and never drive impaired. Driving impaired puts your life and the lives of others at risk, and it is illegal in Florida.”
Moody recommends following these tips for safe travels on the roadways this holiday season:
- Do not drive under the influence or permit others to drive under the influence;
- Establish a designated driver, call a cab or use a ride-sharing service if there is no designated driver;
- Fasten seatbelts when driving or riding in a vehicle;
- Avoid distracted driving, including texting while driving; and
- Beware of the increase in impaired drivers—especially at night.
First Responders Put On Christmas Light Show For Children’s Hospital Patients
December 25, 2023
The Child, the Child sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light.
He will bring us goodness and light.
For the fourth year, local first responders gathered outside the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart Christmas Eve night. Children and families inside watched as the first responders gathered outside waving, every emergency light flashing. A few minutes to say they care about the children inside and shine a little light for those who can’t be home this Christmas Eve.
The Pensacola Police Department, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol, Pensacola Fire Department, and more made Christmas a bit brighter for those in the children’s hospital.
The Child, the Child sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light.
