Fields Of Faith: Community Worship Service Held
November 2, 2023
Northview High School’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes hosted a spring Fields of Faith on a cold Wednesday night in Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium.
Fields of Faith is a national student-led initiative. “Students invite, pray for, share with, and challenge their peers to read the Bible and follow Jesus Christ. An athletic field provides a neutral, rally point where a community can come together,” according to national organizers.
For more images, click or tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Circuit Court Releases More Info On Computer Hack
November 2, 2023
The investigation is continuing into an “information technology security event” that impacted court in the First Judicial Circuit. This week, the court issued the following statement
This provides an update on the First Judicial Circuit of Florida’s (“Circuit”) investigation into a cyber incident. As our investigation is still ongoing, the Circuit is committed to providing information about the incident, our response, and steps for potentially impacted individuals to follow for protection against the possibility of identity theft or fraud. The Circuit takes this incident very seriously and is using this opportunity to further strengthen our policies, practices, and technology to protect against future attacks.
What Happened and What the Circuit Has Done: Upon detecting suspicious activity on its network, the Circuit responded quickly and temporarily disconnected computer systems to mitigate risk to sensitive information. Circuit Administration began investigating the cyber incident, including coordinating with law enforcement authorities, and utilizing Mandiant, leading global cybersecurity experts, to assist our team in forensic investigation and remediation efforts. The Circuit worked quickly to restore safe and secure access to court operations, services, and systems.
What Information Was Affected: Review and analysis of the affected data involved in this cyber incident is ongoing. While the impacted information varies based on the individual and their relationship with the Circuit, the following information may have been accessed as a result of this incident: name; Social Security number; taxpayer identification number; date of birth; driver’s license information; and state identification number. In addition, for some individuals, certain types of health and insurance information may also have been accessed.
What Information Was Not Affected: The Clerks of the Court in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton Counties maintain the official records of the court in a separate system. As a result, based on the investigation to date, the Clerks’ records and data are not impacted by this incident.
What Should Individuals Do: Out of an abundance of caution, individuals may wish to take steps to protect themselves against the possibility of identity theft and fraud. The Circuit will notify impacted entities and individuals, as appropriate, through various communication channels, including through a media press release, letters mailed and/or emails.
Potentially affected individuals are encouraged to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft by reviewing personal accounts and credit history for unusual activity and reporting any suspicious activity promptly. The Circuit has established a dedicated website, www.firstjudicialcircuit.org/NoticeofDataIncident, which provides additional resources for individuals.
The Circuit sincerely thanks everyone for their patience during this challenging matter. Special recognition to the Clerks of Court for their invaluable assistance and cooperation in restoring court operations; the Office of the State Attorney; the Office of the Public Defender; and the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, along with other partner agencies, who stepped in to provide support with responding to this incident.
Disaster Declared: Loan Program Available in Escambia County Due To Drought
November 1, 2023
The U.S. Small Business Administration announced Wednesday that federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available in Florida and most private nonprofit organizations with economic losses due to the drought conditions that began on Oct. 3, 2023.
The declaration includes Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties in Florida, and Escambia and Baldwin Counties in Alabama.
“Working capital loans from the SBA are essential to eligible small businesses when the Secretary of Agriculture declares a disaster due to farmers’ crop losses,” said Francisco Sanchez Jr., associate administrator of SBA’s Office of Disaster Recovery & Resilience. “These loans help sustain rural economies when a disaster occurs.”
Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and non-farm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. Apart from aquaculture enterprises, SBA cannot provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers and ranchers. Nurseries are eligible to apply for economic injury disaster loans for losses caused by drought conditions.
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates of 4% for small businesses and 2.375% for private nonprofit organizations with terms up to 30 years. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until twelve months from the date of the first loan disbursement. Eligibility is based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA’s secure website at sba.gov/disaster and should apply under SBA declaration # 20038.
Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (if you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services), or sending an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from the SBA’s website at sba.gov/disaster.
Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than June 10, 2024.
Miami Woman Charged With Smuggling Drugs Into Century Prison
November 1, 2023
A Miami woman has been charged with smuggling drugs into the Century Correctional Institution.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said 52-year old Maria Delosangeles Maceo used a false name and smuggled both marijuana and cocaine into the facility and tried to pass them to an inmate during a visit. The exchange failed, and she was caught by FDC staff, the ECSO said. She was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $55,000.
Escambia (Ala.) School Board Member, Newspaper Publisher Indicted On New Felony Ethics Charges
November 1, 2023
Escambia County (Alabama) School Board member and newspaper publisher Sherry Ann Digmon, 72, of Atmore was arrested Wednesday on additional charges.
She was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of ethics violations for use of office for personal gain.
The latest indictment alleges she used her position as a school board member to solicit ads for Atmore Magazine, in which she is the incorporator and holds a financial interest.
Count two of the indictment alleges that she solicited payment for advertising from a subordinate, Then-Superintendent John Knott and/or CFO Julie Madden for advertising in Atmore Magazine.
She was released from jail Wednesday on a $100,000 bond. The new charges are Class B felonies with a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a top fine of $30,000.
Digmon, who is publisher of The Atmore News weekly newspaper and her reporter, Don Fletcher were arrested last week on charges of revealing grand jury secrets.
Cold Mornings Continue
November 1, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 64. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 37. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 71. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 46. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 75. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 78. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 79.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 80.
Longtime Century Town Planner Debbie Nickles Has Passed Away
November 1, 2023
Longtime Century Town Planner Debbie Nickles passed away Monday. She worked with the town as a consultant for over 40 years, first under then-mayor Benny Barnes.
Nickles worked on numerous projects for the town, including a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), EPA Brownfields, a Land Development Code, tornado recovery, a five-year schedule of improvements, housing grants and Triumph funding requests. She was responsible for securing millions of dollars in grants for Century and its residents, particularly those most in need of housing and other assistance.
Nickles passed away following a battle with ongoing health issues. Memorial services will be scheduled at a later date.
Pictured: Debbie Nickles at a 2018 community “Welcome Home” block party as residents returned home to new homes following the destruction of a tornado that devastated the Front Street area of Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Freeze Warning For Wednesday Night, Low Around 32
October 31, 2023
A freeze warning is in effect for Wednesday night with sub-freezing temperatures as low as 30 possible from late Wednesday night through Thursday morning. Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.
Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes they should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. Those that have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above-
ground pipes to protect them from freezing.
There is also a red flag warning
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
This Afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 59. North wind around 15 mph.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 32. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 64. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 37. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 71. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 46. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 75. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 78. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 79.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 80.
FHP: Driver falls Asleep, Crashes Tanker With 1,000 Gallons of Methanol
October 31, 2023
A driver fell asleep and crashed a tanker truck hauling 1,000 gallons of methanol early Tuesday morning in Escambia County.
“The driver of the vehicle fell asleep at the wheel, and ran off the right shoulder of the roadway, and rolled into a ditch on the northbound side of Scenic Hwy,” according to a Florida Highway Patrol report. The crash happened about 1:41 a.m on Scenic Highwaway, just north of I-10.
The 50-year old driver was not injured, but Scenic Highway was closed for about seven hours to return the trailer to an upright position.
The Cantonment and Ensley Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were among the responding crews.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Family Identifies Century Homicide Victim As Young Father, Former High School Football Player
October 31, 2023
Family has identified a Century homicide victim as 20-year old Jaheem Durant, the father of a 2-year old.
Durant was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds on a sidewalk along North Century Boulevard, near Ramar Street about 1:15 a.m. Sunday.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident as a homicide, and there were no suspects immediately identified by deputies. Additional details were not available as the investigation continued. Investigators were working to determine if the shooting happened on the roadside or elsewhere.
Anyone with information is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Durant played high school football for both the Northview Chiefs and the Flomaton Hurricanes.
At Northview, Durant was named 2nd Team Defensive End for the Florida 1A All-State football team. He was a member of the Flomaton High School first ever state championship team.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.