School Board Looks To Make Leonard Permanent Superintendent
October 13, 2023
The Escambia County School Board is heading toward extending Keith Leonard’s contract as permanent superintendent.
Leonard was hired as interim superintendent effective June 1 after the board fired former superintendent Tim Smith.
“I believe our interim superintendent has been doing an admirable job,” Hightower said as she brought up the discussion during a Thursday afternoon workshop session.
“Come January, any superintendent in the state is going to have to start thinking about roles and responsibilities preparing for the coming school year,” she said. “I just feel like it’s just a disservice not only to the person sitting in that seat, but also to our employees if we don’t say something earlier than June about what is going to happen.”
She said that if the board is ready, she would like to have a conversation in December about making Leonard the permanent superintendent.
“Mr. Leonard has come into this job, has hit the ground running,” Hightower said. “In order for us to create some stability and consistency, I would like for us to decide how we want to move forward.”
“I see excitement in our employees and in my schools,” board member Kevin Adams said. “I appreciate the job he’s doing, and right now he’s my guy.”
“It gives our employees a feeling of we are not guessing what the future looks like,” Bill Slayton said. “The board seems to be moving in a direction that we can have a permanent superintendent…that puts a lot of relaxation I think to all of our employees, and students and parents.”
Leonard mentioned a possible 18-month rolling contact.
“Right now, out teachers have a year to year contract. That’s what I think Keith Leonard should have,” Leonard said, adding the board should tell the superintendent each December if the contract will be continued. “In December, you are going to tell somebody something so they know that they have the authority and the responsibility, more than that, to get things done.”
Leonard was in the top four when the board last conducted a national search before hiring Smith. Leonard’s current interim contract ends June 30, 2024, if it’s not renewed.
14-Time Convicted Felon Charged After Narcotics Search Warrant In Cantonment
October 13, 2023
A 14-time convicted felon was arrested after the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant in Cantonment.
Joshua Brennan Totty, 33, was charged with trafficking of methamphetamine-14 grams or more, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana with the intent to sell, manufacture, and/or deliver, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $121,000 bond.
Wednesday, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team and Narcotics Unit served a search warrant in the 1900 block of Ryale Road off Old Kingsfield Road.
A used glass smoking pipe with burnt residue on it and $230 cash were found in Totty’s front pocket, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
In the home, shed, and pickup truck deputies reported finding:
- six white rectangle bars inscribed with “555″ from black hoodie from bedroom one
- one round of 12 gauge ammunition from bedroom one cabinet
- clear crystal like substance in zip-lock bag from camouflage jacket pocket from bedroom two
- Taurus G3C 9mm with magazine from bathroom two plastic drawer
- 51 rounds of 9mm ammunition from bathroom two plastic drawer
- liquid methadone in 220 mg bottle from bathroom two
- camouflage backpack from Ford Ranger front seat, which contained multiple quantities of suspected methamphetamine
- black digital scale from camo backpack
- approximately three grams of marijuana in baggie from camo backpack
- $33,633 cash from camo backpack
- black Tracfone wireless smartphone in black case from shed countertop
- quantity of methamphetamine *field tested positive* from bedroom one dresser drawer
- miscellaneous ammo from bedroom one dresser drawer
- 40 cal ammo (13 rounds) from bedroom one dresser top
- Harrington and Richardson shotgun from bedroom one closet
- black digital scale in the laundry room
Three other suspects were present at the time the search warrant was served jail records do not show any of them had been arrested in Escambia County by Thursday night. Totty is not charged in connect with all of the items listed.
The ECSO said Totty is a convicted felon with 21 total felony charges and 14 total felony convictions, the latest of which was from two years ago for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to sell, manufacture, or deliver.
Drought Conditions Worsen: Will Recent Rainfall Improve The Situation?
October 13, 2023
A severe to extreme drought continues across the North Escambia area according to a new report.
The report is issued by the U.S. Drought Monitor each week on Thursday, but the information in the report was gathered before Wednesday which saw 1-2 inches of slow, steady rain across the area. The rain won’t be reflected in the report until next week.
The worst areas with an extreme drought include western Escambia County in Alabama and a small section of North Escambia in Florida, including Nokomis, Davisville and Bratt along the state line.
Free Dog And Cat Adoptions Through Saturday At The Escambia Animal Shelter
October 13, 2023
The Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare is participating in the Bissell Pet Foundation “Empty the Shelters” event through Saturday, October 15.
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.
“We are proud to participate with Bissell for the second time for their ‘Empty the Shelters’ event,” said John Robinson, director for the Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare. “This will provide opportunities for all of our great dogs and cats to find their new families this summer. Adopting a pet not only gives our homeless animals a second chance, but also creates space that will allow our organization to help many other animals in need of temporary housing. We have a large number of animals available for adoption that will make a great addition to your family.”
The Escambia County Animal Welfare and Adoption Center is located at 200 W. Fairfield Drive. Hours of operation Friday from 12-5 p.m., and Saturdays from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m
Cantonment Woman Charged With Public Assistance Fraud
October 12, 2023
A Cantonment woman has been charged with felony public assistance fraud.
Tammy Anne Wooton, 49, was charged with failure to disclose a change in circumstances or failure to disclose a material fact to the Department of Children and Families.
Wooton failed to report change in employment, reported an extra household resident and failed to report a household member’s employment, according to court documents.
Prosecutors said she received benefits totalling $17,214.22 to which she was not entitled.
She was released from jail on a $5,000 bond.
Northview High Announces Homecoming Court
October 12, 2023
Northview High School has named their 2023 homecoming court.
Court members are:
12th Grade
- Chloe Criswell
- Army Findley
- Janiyah Hooks
- Tydeasia McKenzie
- Chloe Morris
11th Grade
- Aliyah Fountain
- Lacey Sapp
- Amiyah Smith
10th Grade
- Aakira Davis
- Noel Pugh
9th Grade
- Mikayla McAnally
- Jaycee Miller
- MaKayla Plato
The homecoming queen will be named during a ceremony that begins at 6 p.m. Friday in Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium on the Northview campus.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Police Report Someone Is Passing Counterfeit Money
October 12, 2023
The Flomaton Police Department is warning that someone is passing or attempting to pass counterfeit money.
FPD said they received several reports. They are asking anyone that believes they are a victim to call FPD at (25) 296-5811 or their local law enforcement agency.
Further details, including a suspect description, were not provided.
Photo: Courtesy U.S. Secret Service, click to enlarge.
Woman Gets One Year For Hospital Death Of Her Special Needs Daughter
October 12, 2023
An Escambia County woman convicted of battery and child abuse for an incident that claimed her daughter’s life in 2021 has been sentenced to one year in jail.
Jessica Ann Caroline Bortle, 36, also received three years probation and will be required to attend parenting classes. Bortle was originally charged with negligent manslaughter and aggravated child abuse for the death of 14-year old Jasmine Singletary inside Sacred Heart Hospital.
In July, a jury returned a guilty verdict on lesser charges of battery and child abuse.
Pensacola Police said Singletary — described as a special needs patient with a neuromuscular disorder — was in her room at Sacred Heart with her grandmother and Bortle.
Jasmine unexpectedly lost consciousness and stopped breathing, police said. Hospital staff began life saving procedures, but those efforts were unsuccessful and Jasmine died.
The autopsy showed that Jasmine had suffered massive injuries to her ribs and her liver. Those injuries were not present when she was admitted to the hospital.
Pensacola Police investigators said they determined that the injuries were caused by Bortle. An arrest report states she told police that she “slammed the hospital table into Singletary’s abdomen and then leaned onto the table with her weight” after she became angry after Jasmine cussed at her over color crayons.
During her trial, Bortle maintained that it was all an accident.
FWC Law Enforcement Report: Pitcher Plants, Undersized Fish
October 12, 2023
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following recent activity:
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officers Waters and Hahr responded to a complaint from the staff at Tarkiln Bayou State Park after a patron observed a subject picking protected pitcher plants. The patron advised the subject that picking the threatened plants was prohibited, but the subject responded she had permission and continued to pick them. The subject was found at her vehicle with the plants and issued a notice to appear for harvesting a threatened plant from public property without permission.
Officer Waters and Hahr were checking boats returning to the Navy Point boat ramp and located two boats in possession of undersized gray triggerfish. Both subjects responsible were charged with possession of undersized gray triggerfish. Later in the weekend, they located another boat with a four-person limit of gray triggerfish. All four of the fish were undersized, and the owner of the vessel was charged with possession of undersized gray triggerfish.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officers Bower and Phillips were conducting resource inspections and located two subjects fishing from a local pier without valid saltwater fishing licenses. The officers conducted an inspection and located two flounder not in whole condition and additional undersized flounder. The flounder measured 10 inches in length. The legal size for flounder is 14 inches. A resource inspection was conducted on the second subject and two mangrove snapper filets were located at the bottom of the cooler, not in whole condition. Flounder and mangrove snapper are required to be landed in whole condition and possessing such fish not in whole condition in or on state waters or a public or private fishing pier is prohibited. Both subjects were cited appropriately for the violations.
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.
Escambia Man Gets 30 Years For Child Porn
October 12, 2023
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to 30 years on state prison on child porn charges.
Brandon Lee Stafford pleaded to 15 counts of possession of certain images of child pornography, and he was designated a sexual offender by Circuit Judge Linda Nobles.
On February 24, 2022, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the Stafford’s residence in the course of an economic crime investigation. During that investigation, it was determined that he was in possession of child sexual abuse material on his electronic devices, according to prosecutors. That investigation was then turned over to the Special Victim’s Unit at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
“This defendant had over 700 images of child pornography on his computer when it was seized by the Sheriff’s Department,” prosecuting attorney Carrie Gilmer said. “The child pornography found on the defendant’s devices was extremely disturbing and some of the worst that the investigator has come across in this type of case. This sentence will help protect the community and children in the future.”