Local Students Visit Tallahassee On Annual Youth Tour
February 23, 2022
When Northview High School junior Drake Driskell sat on the floor of the Florida Senate for a mock bill debate, appreciation for the Youth Tour experience sank in. As he took in the room from the perspective of a state lawmaker, he realized what a unique opportunity he had been given.
“That was probably my favorite part because we got to see what it’s like to be a senator,” Driskell said. “I may never get to do that again. I would definitely recommend it to any student who is interested.”
Driskell was one of seven local high school students who attended the Florida Electric Cooperatives 2022 Tallahassee Youth Tour, thanks to Escambia River Electric Cooperative. Each student applied and was chosen based on their GPA and a written essay.
Students toured the Challenger Learning Center, held a mock bill debate on the floor of the Florida Senate and a mock trial in the Supreme Court, and visited the Museum of Florida History.
Central High School student Taylor Baggett was unable to attend last year as a junior due to COVID-19; however, was afforded the opportunity to participate as a senior this year. Baggett participated as a judge in a Supreme Court mock trial.
“It was so interesting how people come together to fight for causes and to be able to enjoy this experience with other students from around Florida made it that much better,” Baggett said. “I believe that it’s very important for students like us to be involved in politics and our government.”
All of the Florida electric cooperatives select the youths from their local high schools to attend the Youth Tour, and all expenses are paid by the sponsoring electric cooperative.
“Through attending the tour, young people learn about government, and about their local electric cooperatives and the role they play in their communities,” said EREC CEO Ryan Campbell. “It’s very important that we have these young leaders in our community learning to use their voice for what they are passionate about.”
Pictured top: Students from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties visit with Rep. Michelle Salzman during the Tallahassee Youth Tour. Pictured below: Central High School student Taylor Baggett participates as a judge in a mock trial at the Florida Supreme Court. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Celebrates National FFA Week With Appreciation Breakfast
February 23, 2022
FFA members at Northview High School are celebrating National FFA Week with a variety of events.
Tuesday morning, the FFA officers and members prepared a homestyle breakfast for teachers, staff and invited guests that support the FFA program
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Robbing, Threatening To Blow Up Bank
February 23, 2022
A man has been charged with robbing an Escambia County bank by threatening to blow it up.
Bruce Allen Hill, 59, walked into a bank in the 400 block of Navy Boulevard about noon on February 19, handing the clerk a note threatening to detonate an explosive if the clerk did not hand over cash, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Hill took an undisclosed amount of money and left.
ECSO deputies arrived on the scene and arrested Hill moments later in the bank parking lot.
Hill was charged with robbery and threats to discharge an explosive. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $200,000.
According to Escambia County Jail records, Hill is homeless.
One Seriously Injured In Highway 29, North Tate School Road Wreck
February 22, 2022
One person was seriously injured in a three vehicle crash midday Tuesday at Highway 29 and North Tate School Road.
It appeared that a Chevrolet pickup truck T-boned a Nissan car in a wreck that also left a Chevrolet sedan with minor damage about 12:10 p.m.
The driver of the Nissan was transported by Escambia County EMS to a Pensacola hospital in serious condition.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not said how the crash happened. The Cantonment and Ensley stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue responded.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Battery, Kidnapping And Theft
February 22, 2022
A Cantonment man has been charged in an incident involving a Valentine’s Day gift and in a separate incident for allegedly physically tying to force a woman to go to his mother’s house.
Bartow Kindrell Cobb, Jr., was charged with battery domestic violence and theft for the February 15 incident.
The victim told deputies she was contacted by Cobb who said he had a Valentine’s Day present for her. She agreed to meet him so he would stop bothering her, according to an arrest report. After receiving the gift, Cobb began to argue with her.
She left in her vehicle, only to discover that Cobb was following her in the area of Nine Mile Road and Jernigan Road. She pulled into a parking lot, where deputies said Cobb began to argue with her and demanded his gift back. With her permission, he retrieved the gift from the backseat of her vehicle before punching her in the mouth, the report continues.
She left, and again realized Cobb was following her. She had realized that $500 in cash was missing from her back seat, and deputies said she agreed to meet him to recover her money. The arrest report states he returned the money and the Valentine’s Day present.
Cobb was also charged with felony kidnapping false imprisonment and battery for a January 3 incident involving a woman. Arrest reports do not indicate if it was the same woman as involved in the Valentine’s gift incident.
Cobb allegedly would not allow an adult female to leave her apartment, using physical force to keep her there against her will.
He then forced the victim to get out of bed and accompany him to his mother’s apartment on Irene Lane in Cantonment, according to the arrest report. One they arrived on Irene Lane, she got out of the car and began to walk away. Cobb then physically picked her up and carried her toward his mother’s house. He dropped her, and then grabbed her by the back of her jacket and dragged her, the report continues.
The victim was able to escape after an elderly man walking down Irene Lane yelled at them to stop.
Cobb was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $7,500 bond.
Jim Allen Elementary School Names Students of The Month
February 22, 2022
Jim Allen Elementary School has named their Students of the Month. They are Cyleigh Giles and Januelle Soriano. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Is Flomaton A Speed Trap? The Police Chief, And The Data, Say No
February 22, 2022
Is Flomaton a speed trap?
No, says Flomaton Police Chief Charles Thompson.
But Flomaton is a small town with a really big speeding problem, and he’s got the data to show it.
“Speeding is one of the number one complaints received by our department and my office,” Thomspon said. “Flomaton has thousands of vehicles traveling through each day, and a high percentage of those vehicles are speeding.”
The Flomaton Police Department has a radar trailer on Sidney Manning Boulevard, also known as Highway 29.
Last Saturday, February 19, the trailer’s radar clocked 4,013 vehicles headed north out of Florida. Almost 90% of vehicles were speeding with 3,599 traveling over the posted 35 mph. There were 883 vehicles, 22%, traveling over 46 mph — more than 10 mph over the limit.
Thompson said Flomaton is not a speed trap. The speed limit is 35 mph crossing the state line in Alabama. It drops to 35 mph about 2.5 miles away on the south side of Century. The speed limits on Highway 31, Highway 28 and Highway 113 in Flomaton are set by the state, not the town.
“Based on the complaints received and statistics we are seeing with our information retaining radar trailer, the Flomaton Police Department will be strictly enforcing all traffic laws, including that of speeding,” the chief said. “It should be no surprise to see extra officers on the roads in the near future attempting to help assist this issue.”
Escambia Health Dept. Suspends Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing
February 22, 2022
The Florida Department of Heath (FDOH) in Escambia County has suspended drive-thru COVID-19 testing due to a decline in demand.
COVID-19 testing continues to be available at several locations in Escambia County, including the rapid testing schedule outlined below:
What: COVID-19 Rapid Testing Schedule*
Where: FDOH- Escambia Fairfield, 1295 West Fairfield Drive, Pensacola, FL
When: Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. CT
Who: All persons (ages 2 and up) who are experiencing symptoms or those who have been exposed to someone with known COVID-19.
How: Appointment needed. Call 850-595-6500 option 6 to schedule an appointment. Bring a valid form of identification. Rapid testing with results available within 30 minutes. Questions can be directed to FDOH-Escambia’s COVID-19 phone line at 850-595-6500 option 6.
Parker Road, Williams Ditch And McKenzie Being Repaved In Cottage Hill
February 22, 2022
Escambia County is in the midst of a resurfacing project in Cottage Hill.
Work is underway to resurface Parker Road from end to end. McKenzie Road from Highway 95A to Parker Road, and Williams Ditch Road from Highway 95A to Parker Road will also be resurfaced.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Suspect Extradited From Alabama, Now Charged With Century Homicide
February 21, 2022
A Flomaton man arrested in Atmore has now been extradited to Florida and officially charged with homicide negligent manslaughter for the death of a man in Century last year.
Timothy Lavon Johnson, 34, is in the Escambia County Jail in Pensacola with bond set at a half million dollars. He was taken into custody last week in Atmore.
Johnson is now charged with the murder of a man that died less than two weeks after he was found unresponsive with head injuries in Century.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to an aggravated battery report on Hilltop Road at Alger Road at 11:18 a.m. on Sunday, July 18, 2021. The man, identified by family as Chris Hunter, passed away July 28, 2021, 10 days after he was injured.
Family members told NorthEscambia.com that Chris Hunter was the brother of Greg Hunter, who died days after he was found injured outside a Century bar.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to Odom’s Bar on North Century Boulevard about 10 p.m. on June 19, 2021, to find 60-year old Greg Hunter down in the parking lot. At the time, investigators said it was a homicide and that he had been seriously beaten and left unconscious. But the Medical Examiner’s Office later said Greg Hunter died of natural causes (click for an earlier story).
Editor’s note: The cause of death of Greg Hunter at Odom’s Bar remains as natural causes according to the Medical Examiner’s Office, and Johnson is in no way accused in his death.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
