Dump Truck Driver Hits Cow On Highway 95A
January 26, 2023
A driver was not injured when his vehicle struck a cow early Thursday morning near the Quintette area.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the 59-year old dump truck driver was traveling south on Highway 95A when his vehicle collided with “a cow that was crossing” the road about 5:50 a.m..
Witnesses tell us the cow came to rest in the ditch before later walking away. Troopers said the cow was later rounded up by its owner.
A photograph from the scene showed that more than one cow was loose near the crash scene.
Photo by Sarah Hassebrock for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Driver Killed When His Vehicle Crashes Off Bob Sikes Fishing Pier
January 26, 2023
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 24-year old man was killed when his vehicle plunged off the Bob Sikes Fishing Pier.
FHP said the man from Malvern Arkansas, was traveling north on the pier, when he failed to observe the end of the pier. His vehicle crashed into a concrete barrier and came to rest at the bottom of the water about 11:30 a.m.
The vehicle with the man’s body inside was recovered Thursday afternoon.
No additional details have been released.
Contractor Jesse LaCoste Charged With Fraud, Larceny
January 26, 2023
Local contractor Jesse Wayne LaCoste has been arrested on larceny and fraud charges in Escambia County.
According to jail records, LaCoste was charged with two counts of larceny between $20,000 and $100,000, insurance fraud between $20,000 and $100,000, larceny by a contractor failing to refund, and grand theft between $750 and $5,000.
LaCoste, 31, was released on a $130,000 bond within an hour of being booked in the Escambia County Jail.
LaCoste and his contractor brother-in-law Matthew Banks, have had their contractor licenses revoked in both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties after multiple accusations that they took payment for work that was never completed or even started. LaCoste was arrested in November on charges in Santa Rosa County for accepting $15,000 for work that was never done.
Earlier this month, LaCoste told the Escambia County Contractor Competency Board that he wants his privilege to pull building permits reinstated so that he can get back to work .
“I’ve been called a lot of things this year,” LaCoste said, adding that he has been a builder for 11 years as of this month. “I had nothing but beautiful relationships all along the Gulf Coast, and was touted as something pretty good to work with for a long time. And had nothing but positive interactions.”
“This year, I’ve had my entire life stripped from me,” an emotional LaCoste said at the January meeting. “I’ve continued to be the same person I am, while being called everything you can imagine, receiving death threats and all of those things.”
The Contractor Competency Board told they him would revisit the reinstatement request in the future after fines and restitution are paid.
Teen Sentenced As Adult For 2021 Armed Store Robbery, Residential Armed Burglary
January 26, 2023
A teen has been sentenced as an adult to 12 years in prison for a 2021 convenience store armed robbery in Davisville and an unrelated residential burglary in Molino.
Tallin Treyton Bishop, now 18, was 17 when he was charged with the December 7, 2021, armed robbery of the Marathon convenience store on Highway 97 in Davisville.
He was charged with armed burglary, aggravated assault by threat with a deadly weapon, and shooting into a dwelling for a burglary the following day off Highway 97 in the Dogwood Park area. Wearing masks and armed, Bishop and two others entered the home through an unlocked door and were confronted by the homeowner, according to an arrest report.
According to court documents, Bishop will receive credit for 284 days served while awaiting trial. He was also ordered to pay costs and restitution.
Two other defendants — Ricky Lee Cooper, Jr. and Samuel Adams — are awaiting trial for their alleged roles in the burglary.
Surveillance images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Three Counts Of Child Abuse
January 26, 2023
A Flomaton man is accused of abusing three children following an investigation that began in Escambia County, Florida.
Anthony Williams, 56, was charged with three counts of felony willful child abuse.
“Allegations were made that…Anthony Williams was abusing them. It was later discovered through this investigation that these incidents occurred in Flomaton,” Flomaton Police Chief Johnny Wilson said. The alleged abuse occurred between November 2022 and January 2023, Wilson stated.
According to Flomaton Police, the case began with the Florida Department of Children and Families interviewing three children. The case was transferred to the Alabama Department of Human Resources and the Flomaton Police Department because the investigation involving four children who lived in the Flomaton jurisdiction, according to FPD.
Further information on the allegations was not released.
Williams was being held in the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center without bond.
Inmate Accused Of Assaulting, Injuring Century Correctional Institution Officer
January 26, 2023
Inmate Lincoln Woods assaulted an officer at Century Correctional Institution, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
“Staff responded appropriately, and the inmate was subdued,” FDC said.
Woods was sentenced to 25 years in 2011 on multiple Volusia County convictions, including carjacking, kidnapping, fleeing law enforcement, burglary, selling cocaine, and grand theft motor vehicle.
Tate FFA, Ag Students Take Part In Literacy Week At Jim Allen Elementary
January 26, 2023
The Tate High School FFA chapter helped kick off Literacy Week at Jim Allen Elementary school.
Tate FFA officers, students from the agriculture communications class, ag teachers and FFA advisors partnered with Jim Allen Elementary to introduce the agriculture literacy program through Ag in the Classroom.
Agriculture students and FFA members shared a part of Florida agriculture with the first grade classes. Students read and shared the book “The Cattle Tale”. Students learned about Florida cattle ranch history and production practices highlighting the past, present and future industry trends. Students also worked on group activities with first graders centered around the book.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pen Air Plans New Branch In Beulah
January 26, 2023
Pen Air Credit Union will break ground Thursday on a new location in Beulah.
The 1,200 square foot branch will be located on a one acre lot near the southeast corner of 9 Mile Road and Beulah Road, next door to McDonalds amd in front of Publix. Plans show a two-lane drive-thru behind the main building.
The plans have not yet been approved by the Escambia County Development Review Committee.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Volunteer Wanted For West Florida Public Library Board of Governance
January 26, 2023
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking county residents interested in volunteering to be considered for an appointment to the West Florida Public Library Board of Governance.
The duties of the board include establishing policy and overseeing the management of Escambia County library services and making recommendations to the BCC regarding the annual budget according to the purposes and authority set forth in resolutions, interlocal agreements and other agreements, as well as state and federal laws. These duties also include establishing an annual plan of service and the long-range strategic planning of library services.
West Florida Public Libraries provides service to all of Escambia County, with the board typically meeting on the fourth Monday of the month from 4-6:30 p.m.
Residents interested in serving on the board are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve by 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 9. Resumes should be submitted to Todd J. Humble, Director, West Florida Public Libraries, 239 N. Spring St., Pensacola, FL, 32502 or by email to tjhumble@mywfpl.com.
Resumes submitted to a BCC agenda for consideration will become part of the official minutes and are subject to public records requests.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Three Airlifted After Multi-Vehicle Crash On Highway 97 In Molino
January 25, 2023
Three people were airlifted to an area hospital with critical injuries following a multi-vehicle crash Monday afternoon on Highway 97 in Molino.
The crash happened about 3 p.m. on Highway 97 just north of Sunshine Hill Road.
Three people were declared “trauma alerts” and flown to the hospital by three different medical helicopter services — LifeFlight, Medstar Air Care, and Shandscair — from a landing zone set up at Molino Park Elementary School. At least two of the victims were males in their 60s, according to reports.
At least one other person was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital with injuries that were not considered critical.
The vehicles involved in the wreck included a GMC Hummer, a pickup truck and a passenger car.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released the cause of the crash, which closed down Highway 97 and detoured drivers.
The Molino, McDavid and Cantonment stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue responded, along with multiple Escambia County EMS units and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Photos by Melody Johnson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
