Firefighters Battle Woods Fire In Cottage Hill
September 24, 2023
Firefighters were battling a woods fire behind several homes in Cottage Hill Sunday afternoon.
Multiple stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue and the Florida Forest Service responded about 3:15 p.m. to the 1800 block of Williams Ditch Road, east of Parker Road.
There was no structural damage immediately reported, and no injuries.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
K-9 Buster Is Working To Detect Weapons In Escambia Schools (With Gallery)
September 24, 2023
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Buster is now working at local schools to detect weapons.
Buster specializes in the detection of firearms and ammunition. Firearms are not permitted o Escambia County Public Schools campuses at any time.
Buster and his handler, deputy Katie Touchstone, are being used in the schools and at sporting events.
For more photos, click or tap here.
“We are pleased and extremely fortunate to have such a positive relationship with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office,” said ECPS Superintendent Keith Leonard. “Any time we are able to bring trained law enforcement assets to bear in making our campuses more secure, we are grateful.”
“ECSO is committed to doing whatever it takes to make sure our students and community members are safe at school and sporting events,” said Sheriff Chip Simmons. “We want those in our community who would plan to cause problems at these events to know, with no uncertainty, that we will do everything we can to foil those plans and put you in jail.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Students Collect Items For Ronald McDonald House
September 24, 2023
Molino Park Elementary students recently donated needed items for the Ronald McDonald House. The third grade won first place for the most items donated. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Accused In Theft Of $10K Worth Of Lawn Equipment
September 24, 2023
An Escambia County man has been charged with stealing over $10,000 worth of Stihl lawn equipment.
Rashaad Ramon Stafford, 28, was charged with three counts of burglaries and several counts of grand theft. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected.
The ECSO was investigating a recent string of burglaries where suspects were targeting businesses and vehicles. Last week, investigators were conducting surveillance and identified Stafford as a suspect. Stolen property was being stored at two residences and was recovered.
Stafford remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Photos courtesy ECSO for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Undocumented Flomaton Man Charged With Possessing Fake IDs At The Pensacola Airport
September 24, 2023
A man who claimed to be a Flomaton resident was arrested at the Pensacola airport with fake identification recently.
Joseph Manuel Alvarado, 30, was charged with two felony counts of possessing similitude id cards.
A Transportation Security Administration agent located a fake “U.S.A. resident card” and social security card in Alvarado’s luggage, according to a Pensacola Police Department report. The report stated the cards were obvious poor quality fakes.
Speaking through a TSA translator, Alvarado admitted he was undocumented and was seeking asylum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the report continues.
According to jail records, Alvarado provided an address in Flomaton when he was booked. He was being held on a $6,000 bond with an additional hold from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Fiber Provider: Please Don’t Shoot At Our Lines During Dove Season
September 24, 2023
With dove season beginning, North Escambia’s new fiber internet provider is issuing a warning — don’t shoot at power or fiber lines.
According to Connect Powered by Escambia River Electric Cooperative, shooting at an electrical line is a crime and the responsible parties could be held financially liable for repairs.
“Shooting at wired lines, even during hunting season, could result in unnecessary power and internet outages,” Connect said.
Anyone that witnesses a person shooting at wired lines in EREC’s territory is asked to report it to the cooperative at (850) 675-4521.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, dove season is September 23 to October 15, November 11 to December 3 and December 19 to January 31.
Fiery Crash Claims Life On Highway 97 In Molino
September 23, 2023
A fiery Highway 97 crash in Molino claimed a life early Saturday morning.
A white Nissan Sentra left the roadway about 5:40 a.m. and hit a tree before catching fire, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The driver was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash on Highway 97 near Abromovich Lane, less than a mile north of Molino Park Elementary School.
FHP was continuing to work to positively identify the driver.
File photo.
Motorcyclist Critically Injured On Highway 97 After Swerving To Avoid A Deer
September 23, 2023
A motorcyclist was critically injured in an early morning crash on Highway 97 south of Walnut Hill.
A 49-year old Atmore man was northbound on Highway 97 south of Tungoil Road when he swerved to avoid a deer in the roadway, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. His motorcycle left the roadway, overturned and collided with a tree. The man was ejected from the motorcycle and landed about 60 feet away, troopers said.
The man was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition.
One person was killed in an unrelated fiery crash on Highway 97 early Saturday. Click here for more.
File photo.
One Person Shot Outside Deluna Lanes On Nine Mile Road
September 23, 2023
One person was shot early Saturday morning outside Deluna Lanes on Nine Mile Road.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded just before 1 a.m. Saturday. after a shot was fired inside a car parked outside the bowling alley.
The victim was reportedly driven to the Target parking lot on Nine Mile Road before being transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital.
Additional details were not provided. Anyone with information is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Century Cuts Special Election Qualifications Down To Just Three Days
September 23, 2023
The Town of Century has cut the qualification period to just three days next week for candidates that wish to seek the office of mayor or a town council seat in an upcoming special election.
ELECTION DATES
Ben Boutwell resigned as mayor on August 22. Then on August 28, Luis Gomez, Jr. resigned from his seat after being appointed interim mayor.
The special primary election will be held on Tuesday, October 17 in a contest with three or more candidates. If that necessitates a runoff, it will be held during the general election.
The general election in a contest with only two candidates will be held on Wednesday, November 1 (along with any necessary runoff).
CANDIDATE QUALIFICATION
Candidates may qualify from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Supervisor of Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place in Pensacola on Monday, September 25 through Wednesday, September 27 and at Century Town Hall from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Monday, September 25. The qualification period in recent years has been a full week.
An registered voter in the Town of Century can qualify. A candidate for mayor must have resided in the town for six months prior to qualification date, but there is no previous residency requirement for council. The qualification fee for town council is $50; the qualification fee for mayor is $126.32.
The office of mayor pays $10,131.98 annually, while a council member is paid $3,714.92 each year.
The oath of office will be held on Veterans Day, Saturday, November 11 at 10 a.m.
VOTER REGISTRATION
It’s already too late for a resident of Century to qualify to vote in the October 17 primary. The deadline was September 18, one day before the town council voted to approve the election date.
For the November 1 general election, voter registration will close on Tuesday, October 3.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.