State Certifies ECSO To Operate Their Own Training Academy
February 17, 2023
The state has certified the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Training School.
The Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission voted unanimously Thursday to authorize the training academy following a presentation by Sheriff Chip Simmons and Commander Andrew Hobbs in Lake Mary, Florida.
The ECSO becomes only one of six law enforcement agencies in Florida to gain commission approval to operate their own law enforcement academy to train recruits and offer other specialized training.
Historically, local law enforcement agencies have only utilized Pensacola Junior College or George Stone Vocational.
The ECSO said their training school will allow the agency to immerse recruits in our culture, standards, and policies from day one.
“We anticipate a faster and higher level of law enforcement training under this new direction. You will soon see Escambia County Sheriff’s Office recruits engaging in state-of-the-art coursework, physical training, firearms training, and other aspects of professional law enforcement activities,” ECSO said.
The first academy is planned for early summer.
Support Staff, School District Reach Agreement For Raises, $1K Bonus
February 17, 2023
The Escambia County School District and the Union of Education Staff Professionals have reached an agreement for raises for the current school year, along with a one-time $1,000 bonus.
The agreement addresses new legislation which increased all Florida public schools’ minimum wage to $15 per hour on October 1, 2022.
The settlement agreement will go to ratification for all members of the Education Staff Professionals bargaining unit to vote. If ratified, the proposed raise will likely be placed on the agenda for approval by the School Board on March 21.
The details are as follows:
- A new salary schedule will be created to reflect $15 as the entry level hourly rate for Grade 9, Step 1. This new schedule will reflect Step increases of no less than 1.5%.
- All employees of the bargaining unit shall receive no less than a $1.21 per hour raise. This is added to the base hourly rate prior to any supplements or longevity.
- Employees that have already received this amount due to the $15 per hour implementation will be placed on the appropriate step (within the same Grade) to reflect this increase from October 1.
- Employees which received a portion of $1.21 on October 1 shall receive the difference between their increase and $1.21, and that difference shall be retroactive to July 1, 2022. They will be placed on the appropriate step (within the same Grade) to reflect a combined raise of at least $1.21.
- Employees that received no raise on October 1 shall receive an additional $1.21 to their base hourly rate which will be retroactive to July 1, 2022.
- A one-time Retention Supplement of $1,000 (subject to taxes) to be paid to all education support personnel (ESPs). Employees must be full-time, benefit eligible, hired on or before October 1, 2022, and have not broken service since this date.
- The creation of a new position entitled “Registered Behavior Technician.” This position will be in addition to the already established “Behavior Technician.”
- The following supplemental “adds” for qualified positions to include:
- $0.50 per hour to achieve the Fundamental Payroll Certification by the American Payroll Association (APA).
- $1.00 per hour for those established as a Certified Payroll Professional.
More Offers For Escambia’s OLF-8 Property Reach $38 Million, Non-Exclusive Talks To Begin
February 16, 2023
The offers for Escambia County’s OLF-8 property are increasing, now up to $38 million, and the county is set to begin talks with the companies.
Over the weekend, we reported that homebuilder D.R. Horton had made a $33 million offer for the 540 acres on Nine Mile Road.
Early Thursday morning, Breland Companies of Huntsville, Alabama, made a $35 million cash offer for the property. Breland, according to the company, is a nearly 50-year old real estate development firm that has developed over 500 residential communities with over 30,000 units, plus multi-family, office and retail developments. Those developments have been anchored by companies that include BJ’s Wholesale, Starbucks, Chipotle, Outback, Deluth Trading, and others.
“This site appeals to us due to our involvement in several large mixed-use developments,” company CEO Louis W. Breland wrote in the offer letter.
Breland, like, D.R. Horton, offered $1 million in earnest money and a six month inspection period, compared to one year for D.R. Horton.
“Breland intends to pursue multiple categories of commercial and residential projects at the property, including retail, restaurants, office, hotel, light industrial, senior living, multifamily and single family,” all consistent with the master plan, the company stated.
During the Escambia County Commission’s meeting Thursday morning, D.R. Horton countered, increasing their offer to $38 million.
D.R. Horton said the company “intends to incorporate multiple commercial and residential uses into its future master plan. (D.R. Horton) intends to approach a third-party developer with regard to the development of the commercial parcels.”
A design plan approved by the commission is in place for the property with a combination of commerce, residential and amenities. It allocates 271 acres to commerce and industrial; 61 acres to residential including duplexes, townhomes and multifamily; 47 acres to a mixed-use center such as residential over retail and office over retail; and 45 acres to trails and public amenities such as a post office, school, day care and community garden.
“To all the naysayers who said this was a bad deal – this was a good deal, and it’s about to get much better,” said Commissioner Jeff Bergosh.
“I don’t know why we stopped negotiating, because my idea was always $50 million,” Commissioner Lumon May quipped. “So keep negotiating Jeff.”
On a motion by Commissioner Steven Barry and a second by Bergosh, the BOCC voted 5-0 to formally acknowledge receipt of the offers and direct the county administrator and attorney and begin non-exclusive negotiations with both parties and any other company that makes an offer.
“If somebody else wants to submit, they can submit,” May said.
Century Man Held Two At Gunpoint After Wrongly Thinking They Shoplifted, ECSO Says
February 16, 2023
A Century man is facing multiple felony charges for holding two people at gunpoint after he apparently thought they were shoplifting from a local Dollar General, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Edward Joseph Rose, 41, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of felony kidnapping false imprisonment, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and reckless display of a firearm.
Rose told the ECSO that he was shopping inside the Dollar General on North Century Boulevard at Highway 4A when he heard a series of screams about a woman stealing from the store. He told deputies that he exited the store and followed the woman and her boyfriend out to the sidewalk.
“Rose stated that he pulled out his concealed firearm but did not remove it from the holster and began yelling at (the two individuals) to stop, then demanded (them) to return back to the store and wait for law enforcement,” according to an ECSO arrest report.
The store manager told deputies that the woman paid for all of her items. The manager went outside to tell the woman’s boyfriend to leave due to previous encounters and that law enforcement was being contacted, the report states. The manager told deputies that the anti-theft alarm did sound as the woman exited the store with a group of people, but she was not suspected of shoplifting.
The woman and her boyfriend said Rose pointed a silver firearm at them and ordered them to return to the store, which they did, the report states. Two additional witnesses corroborated their statements.
The firearm was a loaded .38 special revolver, and “very little silver shows from the pistol if it is in the holster,” the report states.
Rose was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $26000.
Sexual Offender Accused Of Assaulting Century Correctional Institution Officer
February 16, 2023
Inmate Marquis Nelson assaulted an officer at Century Correctional Institution, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
“Staff responded appropriately, and the inmate was subdued,” FDC said.
Nelson was sentenced to 12 years in 2016 for sexual battery on a victim aged 12-17 in Duval County.
Atmore Man ‘Commandeers’ Employer’s Tractor, Causes Thousands In Damage, APD Says
February 16, 2023
An Atmore man allegedly commandeered a tractor for his former employer and caused thousands of dollars in damage.
About 2:20 a.m. on February 13, the Atmore Police Department responded to a possible traffic accident in the area of Highway 31 and Florida Highway between Atmore and Canoe. That’s where they found 50-year old Richard Wooten of Atmore.
“During their investigation the officers discovered the incident was not a traffic accident. Wooten, who the officers suspected was under the influence of narcotics and was extremely paranoid, commandeered his former employers tractor,” Atmore Police Sgt. Darrell McMann said. “Wooten caused several thousand dollars in damage and was placed under arrest.”
Wooten was charged with criminal mischief first degree, and police said other charges may be pending. He was booked into the Escambia County (Alabama) Detention Center without bond.
No other details were released.
District 1 North Beulah Neighborhood Cleanup Collected Over 15 Tons of Debris
February 16, 2023
Escambia County collected and disposed of just over 15 tons of debris and waste during a recent District 1 North Beulah Neighborhood Cleanup recently. The event allowed residents to leave items at the curb to be disposed of free of charge by the county and partnering agencies.
The cleanup resulted in the collection of 15.17 tons of debris, 1,800 pounds of household hazardous waste, 454 tires and 48 gallons of paint.
The county’s neighborhood cleanup program is hosted by the Escambia County Community Redevelopment Agency’s Safe Neighborhood Program. Local partners include Escambia County Waste Services, Environmental Code Enforcement, Public Works, Animal Services and Road Prison, along with the City of Pensacola Sanitation Department.
A neighborhood cleanup will be held Wednesday, February 22 in Lincoln Park. The next North Escambia cleanup will be the Quintette neighborhood on June 14 followed by Cottage Hill on June 28.
Byrneville Elementary School Names Students Of The Month
February 16, 2023
Byrneville Elementary School recently named their Students of the Month for December.
They are:
- Kindergarten: Deylan Burt and Annalee Faulk
- 1st Grade: Kipton Little (Not pictured)
- 2nd Grade: Emrey Fowler and Paislee Cash
- 3rd Grade: Tatum Godwin and Cayson Henry-Hadley
- 4th Grade: Charlee Flowers and Zaylee Baker (not pictured)
- 5th Grade: Nevaeh Tidd and Kyle Lowery
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Reports: DOJ Won’t Charge Rep. Matt Gaetz In Sex Trafficking Investigation
February 15, 2023
The Justice Department will not pursue any charges against Congressman Matt Gaetz in a federal sex-trafficking investigation, multiple national news organizations reported Wednesday afternoon.
“The Department of Justice has confirmed to Congressman Gaetz’s attorneys that their investigation has concluded and that he will not be charged with any crimes,” Gaetz’s office told Fox News.
Reports first surfaced in 2021 that Gaetz was being investigated into whether Gaetz and a 17-year girl had a sexual relationship. Gaetz has maintained his innocence.
Pictured: Rep Matt Gaetz during a campaign kickoff event at the Walnut Hill Baptist Church in April 2022. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Children’s Trust Awards $5.1 Million For 19 Programs, Only Two In District 5
February 15, 2023
The Escambia County Children’s Trust (ECT) on Tuesday awarded $5,104,482 in grants to 19 service providers for out-of-school time programming.
Two will have service locations in the North Escambia area, totaling $612,601 in Escambia County’s District 5.
The North Escambia area programs are:
- The Urban Development Center and their program “YouthFirst Century” plans to serve 750 youth ages 11-18 over a three-year period. The program will be held at three locations within the Century town limits. $397,556 for the first year.
- Central Gulf Coast Freedom Schools and their program “Expanding Summer School” plans to serve 500 children ages5-14 over a three-year period. The program will take place at the University of West Florida campus. $215,045 for the first year.
RELATED: Children’s Trust Funds ‘YouthFirst Century’ Ed Program; Town To Front $61K To Jumpstart
Just over half of the proposed service locations (52.6%) are in the Pensacola city limits.
According to the ECT, funding “will enable grantees to offer low-income and underserved families a range of high-quality out-of-school time programs that meet a demonstrated need for positive youth development during the critical afterschool hours, summer breaks, and other times when school is not in session”.
In November 2020, Escambia County voters approved the formation of the Children’s Trust to be funded by an increase in ad valorem taxes, enabling the trust to provide early childhood education, safety, developmental, preventive, health, and well-being services, including after school and summer enrichment programs.
The programs approved Tuesday by the Escambia Children’s Trust were:
- Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast — $874,878
- Children’s Home Society — $244,672
- Dixon School of Arts and Sciences — $260,000
- Urban Development Center — $397,556
- Valerie’s House Pensacola — $105,215
- Omega Lamplighters — $107,460
- Central Gulf Coast Freedom Schools — $215,045
- Covenant Care — $201,095
- Pensacola Children’s Chorus — $96,201
- Pensacola Little Theatre — $144,681
- CMB Visions Unlimited — $293,184
- Epps Christian Center — $254,800
- Pensacola MESS Hall — $85,648
- City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation — $540,041
- Chain Reaction — $195,580
- Children’s Theater Company — $196,189
- SALT Ministry (Sisters Anointed to Lead Together) — $11,489
- YMCA of NW Florida — $581,748
- James B. Washington Education & Sports — $295,000
Programs not funded included:
- Escambia County Neighborhood Human Services (two programs)
- Milk and Honey Outreach Ministries
- Hope Through Education
- Escambia County Public Schools Foundation
- Community Uplift
- National Aviation Museum Foundation (National Flight Academy)
- The Salvation Army of Pensacola
- Young Achievers Preschool
- Rotary Youth Camp of North Florida
- New World Believers and Healthy Opportunities and Options Promoting Success Programs
- Whiz Kids Academy
- Bamboo Learning
- My Little Explorers Learning Academy
- Youths Left Behind Corps
NorthEscambia.com graphic.