Peanut Butter Challenge Is Continuing. Have You Made Your Donation?
October 28, 2022
The Peanut Butter Challenge in Escambia County is continuing, and there’s still time to make your donation.
The Peanut Butter Challenge, UF/IFAS Extension’s annual jar collection for local food pantries, first launched in the Florida Panhandle in 2012. It has since launched statewide, giving counties the chance to compete for most jars of peanut butter donated. The challenge serves a way to feed hungry families ahead of the holidays and also promotes peanuts grown in Florida.
Unopened, unexpired jars of peanut butter can be donated at the following locations through October 31:
- Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Escambia County Farm Bureau, 153 Highway 97, Molino
- Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 North W Street
- Gilmore Services, 31 East Fairfield Drive
- Escambia County Administration, 221 Palafox Place, 4th Floor
- Holy Spirit Catholic, 10650 Gulf Beach Highway
In addition to the community donations, the Florida Peanut Producers Association (FPPA) and Florida Peanut Federation (FPF) have partnered with the project for years. These organizations are based in the northwest and northeast peanut-producing regions of the state and will again contribute to the totals distributed to food pantries in those regions.
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Escambia School Choice Open Enrollment Period Is Continuing
October 28, 2022
The school choice open enrollment period for middle and high schools in Escambia County will continue through December.
For elementary schools, the open enrollment period will be January 30 until March 10, 2023.
For more information, click or tap here.
Pictured: A School Choice Expo was held last week at Washington High School, but the open enrollment period is continuing. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FWC Seeks Comments On Proposed Rule Changes
October 28, 2022
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is soliciting feedback on proposed rule changes for 2023-24 hunting seasons and FWC-managed lands.
To provide input, click or tap here.
Proposed statewide rule changes include shooting hours for dove and changes to the approval process for setting the annual number of limited entry and special-opportunity quota permits and antlerless deer permits.
In the Escambia River Wildlife Management area, the rule changes will establish an additional 3-day wild hog-dog hunt each month from May – September; establish a trapping season opening Dec. 1 and closing March 1; and close the general gun season during the 2-day family hunt to allow hunting with dogs throughout the area during the 2-day family hunt.
In the Blackwater WMA, the rule changes will expand the field trial area (FTA) using a portion of newly acquired acres; extend the archery season in the FTA by allowing archery hunting during the general gun season dates (except during existing FTA quota hunts); prohibit take of antlerless deer and wild turkey during the proposed extended archery season dates; and increase the antler point restriction in the FTA from 3 points or a 10-inch main beam on a side to 4 points or 14-inch main beam on a side.
Woman Charged With Murder ‘Motivated By Money, Narcotics, And Their Relationship’
October 27, 2022
A woman has been charged in an August 7 murder in Escambia County.
Raven Elaine Ann Morgan, 20, was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond Wednesday night on a charged first degree premeditated murder.
A man was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head inside a home on Walnut Avenue, about four blocks east of Untreiner Ave, on August 7.
According to investigators, Morgan distracted the victim before he was shot in the planned murder. Deputies obtained a search warrant for Morgan’s phone and found four images of the deceased victim, according to her arrest report. She was arrested September 14 for making a false report. During her nine days in jail, deputies said she had multiple conversations with other inmates about the homicide.
According to the arrest report, Morgan and the alleged shooter “were motivated by money, narcotics, and their relationship”. There is no Escambia County Jail record of the other individual being arrested to date.
Report Details Attempted Murder Allegations Against Byrneville Man; Bond Set
October 27, 2022
Bond was set at $250,000 Wednesday for the Byrneville man accused of shooting his wife Tuesday morning.
Joseph Anthony Franklin, 60, remained in the Escambia County Jail on one count of a attempted homicide.
An arrest report obtained by NorthEscambia.com details the allegations against him.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the couple’s home on McBride Road just off Byrneville Road. Deputies arrived shortly after 8 a.m. to find Franklin sitting on the front porch smoking a cigarette, wearing a tan t-shirt and shorts. A female was on the porch floor next to him with an apparent gunshot wound to her left side, according to the report.
Franklin was ordered at gunpoint to put his hands on top of head. He was taken into custody and placed in an ECSO patrol vehicle.
The victim, later identified by the ECSO as Franklin’s wife, stated she found Franklin sitting on the couch that morning, but that led to an argument because he was supposed to be at work. During the argument, he pulled out a gun and started shooting it, according to the report. The victim told deputies that she tried to get the gun away from Franklin, and that is when he shot her.
Two other people were asleep upstairs in the home at the time but did not hear anything, deputies said.
The victim was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital by MedStar Air Care 2. An update on her condition was not available.
Franklin is due back in court on November 18.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Fields Of Faith: Community Worship Service Held
October 27, 2022
Northview High School’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes hosted their annual Fields of Faith 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 photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Atmore Man Allegedly Stole Lottery Tickets From Nine Mile Road Store Where He Worked
October 27, 2022
An Atmore man is charged with stealing lottery tickets from a Nine Mile Road convenience store where he was employed.
Alkota Jerry Snyder, 28, and a female were each charged with grand theft and obtaining items through fraud.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Alkota Snyder was employed as a clerk at the Circle K at the corner of Nine Mile and Pine Forest roads. During his employment, he allegedly stole Florida Lottery tickets worth $1,470. Snyder would allegedly provide multiple lottery tickets to a male or female at the retail counter, but only ring up one ticket in the register or void the transactions, according to an arrest report. This occured multiple times, according to the ECSO report, and was caught on video surveillance.
Charges against the female, who was arrested in August, were dropped two weeks ago.
Snyder was arrested this week and released from the Escambia County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
Ethics Panel Files Final Order Recommending Doug Underhill Be Removed From Office
October 27, 2022
The Florida Commission on Ethics on Wednesday filed their final order recommending that Escambia County Commissioner Doug Underhill be removed from office.
During a meeting last Friday, the commission found that Underhill disclosed confidential documents only available to him as a public officer and gained by reason of his official position; solicited donations through a GoFundMe page from a vendor, lobbyist or principal of a lobbyist of the county; accepted prohibited donations to his personal legal defense fund from a vendor, lobbyist or the principal lobbyist of the county; and failed to disclose reportable gifts in excess of $100 on a required form.
For the violations, the Ethics Commission voted to recommend a total civil penalty of $35,000, plus public censure and reprimand, and removal from office. It will be up to Gov. Ron DeSantis to impose the penalty and whether or not to remove Underhill from office.
Underhill’s term in office expires November 22 because he did not seek reelection.
To read the final order, click or tap here (pdf).
Inmate Tried To Escape From Police Custody Through Hospital Ceiling
October 27, 2022
A domestic violence suspect is facing additional charges after police said he tried to escape from custody through a hospital ceiling.
Savon Hurst, 27, of Monroeville, was charged with domestic violence and theft by Atmore police.
This week, he complained of headaches and stomach issues, and he was transported by ambulance from the Atmore City Jail to Atmore Community Hospital.
While at the hospital, he requested to use the bathroom. An Atmore Police officer escorted him to the restroom and waited outside the door.
“After Hurst was in the restroom for several minutes the officers heard items striking the floor in the restroom. The officer entered the bathroom and found that Hurst had removed the ceiling tiles and was attempting to escape through the ceiling,” said Atmore Police Sgt. Darrell McMann.”Hurst was quickly taken into custody.”
Hurst is now facing new charges of escape third degree and criminal mischief second degree. He is now being held in the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton without bond.
Tate Showband Earns Straight Superiors At Tiger Invitational
October 27, 2022
The Tate High School Showband of the South won first place overall out of all bands recently at the Pensacola High School Tiger Invitational.
The Showband earned straight superiors, best in Class 5A band and best in Class 5A percussion.