The Buzz: Bees Swarm At Beulah Middle School
August 31, 2022
The Beulah Middle School campus was abuzz Tuesday after a swarm of bees was discovered.
BMS tech coordinator Laura Lee discovered the bee swarm on a tree branch in the courtyard outside her window.
Joan Strickland from Urban Farmer Supplies beekeeping in Molino and Beulah Middle agriscience teacher Charlotte Davis suited up and went to work. They carefully harvested the bees and lowered them in a nuc — that’s a smaller version of the traditional wooden beehive. The bees were not happy with the move and flew to the next tree.
Strickland and Davis captured the queen and placed her in the beehive where she was joined by the swarm.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fire Damages Structure In Barth
August 31, 2022
The cause of a structure fire in the Barth community is under investigation.
A passerby on Barth Road reported seeing flames coming from the building about a half mile off Highway 29 about midnight Tuesday. Firefighters arrived to find a working fire that took about 40 minutes to completely extinguish.
There was no one present at the time of the fire, and there were no injuries reported. Escambia County Fire Rescue reported the building was being used a commercial structure. The building was a total loss.
The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office was called to investigate the cause of the blaze.
NorthEscambia.com stock photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Gets Life In Prison For 2020 Shooting Death
August 31, 2022
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to life in prison for a 2020 murder.
Charlie Richardson, Jr.was sentenced to life by Circuit Court Judge Jennie Kinsey following his conviction for second degree murder with a firearm. He has no possibility of parole.
Richardson shot and killed 32-year old Kewhan Thompson on Concordia Boulevard on December 16, 2020.
Following the shooting, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said the incident was drug related and involved synthetic spice, noting that two separate search warrants dealing with spice had been served at the house.
Richardson had seven prior felony convictions, including two for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Man Arrested In Flomaton On Multiple Florida Warrants
August 31, 2022
A man wanted on multiple charges in Florida was arrested by Flomaton Police Tuesday afternoon.
Nikki Lee Odom, 31, was taken into custody without incident. Authorities said he is wanted on multiple warrants from Escambia County in Florida, including theft.
Odom was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center where he was held without bond awaiting extradition to Florida.
Additional details have not been released.
Blue Wahoos Hold On For 9-8 Win Over Chattanooga
August 31, 2022
Nine early runs were just barely enough for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Tuesday night, as a late Chattanooga Lookouts charge came up short in a 9-8 Wahoos win.
Leading 9-0 after 5.0 scoreless innings from starter Zach King (W, 2-4), the Pensacola bullpen allowed eight unanswered runs before Jefry Yan (S, 3) got the final out with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth.
Pensacola jumped out to an immediate 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a Griffin Conine sacrifice fly and Will Banfield RBI single. They added to the lead in the fourth against Lookouts starter Andrew Abbott (L, 5-7) with an RBI single from Nasim Nuñez and an RBI double from Norel González, stretching the lead to 5-0.
The Blue Wahoos added three more in the fifth and one in the sixth against reliever Myles Gayman, as Demetrius Sims hit an RBI double, J.D. Orr hit a two-run single and Conine drove in his team-leading 65th run with a fielder’s choice.
King allowed only two singles to Christian Encarnacion-Strand over 5.0 scoreless innings, but the Lookouts jumped on Blue Wahoos reliever Andrew McInvale as soon as the game turned to the bullpen. Encarnacion-Strand hit a three-run homer in the sixth and Mike Siani hit an RBI double in the seventh to cut the Pensacola lead to 9-4.
In the ninth, Sean Reynolds had a shaky outing as the Lookouts rallied to bring the game within reach. Elly De La Cruz and Encarnacion-Strand each hit RBI doubles before Yan came on and allowed a hit batsman and bases-loaded walk to bring the score to 9-8. With the tying run at third and the winning run at second, Brian Rey’s bid for a game-winning hit was foiled on a diving play by third baseman Cobie Fletcher-Vance and a scoop at first from Marcus Chiu to end the game.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Lookouts on Wednesday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
‘Safety Concerns’ Move Tate Vs. PHS Football Game To Saturday Morning At Tate
August 30, 2022
Friday night’s schedule Tate Aggies at Pensacola High School football game has been moved to 9 a.m. Saturday at Tate High School.
According to an email from Escambia School Superintendent Tim Smith, the game was moved to Tate High School due to safety concerns shared by local law enforcement.
Escambia County Public Schools spokesperson Cody Strother said there were some “neighborhood issues” that spilled over into the stands last week at the PHS at Washington game. “We are just trying to be proactive and do what’s best.”
“There were several incidents and fights following the PHS and Washington game last week,” Pensacola Police Department spokesman Officer Greg Gordon told us. “We support (the school district’s) safety concerns, and this will let things cool off.”
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Commander Andrew Hobbs said there will be extra deputies at Saturday morning’s game.
“Now that it has been moved into the county, we will have a presence there and ensure everyone’s safety,” he said.
The scheduled Friday, September 9 Pensacola at Pine Forest game has moved to 9 a.m. Saturday, September 10 at Pine Forest.
Pictured: Game action at last Friday night’s Tate at Pine Forest game. NorthEscambia.com photo by Jennifer Repine, click to enlarge.
UPDATE: ECSO Seeks Suspect In Gas Station Shooting
August 30, 2022
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for the suspect in a shooting at a gas station midday Tuesday.
The suspect has now been identified as 21-year old Shannon Wheat, Jr. According to jail records, he has a previous known address in Atmore.
The shooting occurred about 11:45 a.m. at the Beacon store on Mobile Highway near New Warrington Road. The victim was shot several times and transported to an area hospital. An update on his condition was not available.
Investigators released a surveillance image of Wheat and said he may be driving a silver Ford Mustang with front-end damage.
Deputies said the suspect is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Two Charged With Stealing John Deere Tractor From Molino; One Allegedly Also Took His Jailed Dad’s Truck
August 30, 2022
Two people are accused of stealing a John Deere tractor from Molino, and one of the suspects is also charged with stealing a Ford truck along and over $1,300 worth of property from his jailed father.
Cody Edward Comalander, age 22 of Century, and 41-year old Levy Bryan Dixon of Cantonment were each charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, unarmed burglary of a dwelling, grand theft and felony criminal mischief.
Sunday, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies located a stolen John Deere 3032E compact tractor and an 18-foot trailer on Frank Ard Road. The ignition on the tractor was missing and the ignition wires were exposed. The property owner said a man known to him only as “Cody” that lived in Century brought the tractor and trailer to the property.
The Sheriff’s Office located the owner of the equipment on Straughn Road in Molino. He had last seen the tractor and trailer about three weeks ago stored under a carport and was unaware that they were missing until he was contacted by deputies.
Comalander and Dixon were located in bed inside an RV at the Frank Ard Road property. Comalander was booked into the Escambia County Jail on Sunday.
According to an ECSO report, Dixon passed out Sunday afternoon while sitting on a bench outside the booking area at the jail. He was given five doses of Narcan and transported to a local hospital for evaluation. Dixon was booked into the jail Monday night.
A witness told deputies that Comalander and Dixon had been using the tractor to help neighbors and fix the road. The tractor and trailer were returned to the owner, who reported they had about $1,400 in damage.
Comalander also had an outstanding warrant for grand theft of motor vehicle, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, grand theft and petit theft.
In May, he allegedly stole his father’s 1993 Ford truck , $1,360 worth of the father’s property, and $60 from his father’s girlfriend while they were both jailed. The theft was not reported until August 19 after the duo had been released from jail.
Comalander (pictured left) remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $26,000, while Dixon (pictured right) was jailed on a $20,000 bond.
Escambia County Awarded $2.7 Million For Nine Electric Buses
August 30, 2022
A court settlement with Volkswagen will provide Escambia County with a $2.7 million grant for nine electric public transportation buses.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection awarded a total of $68 million for 227 electric buses in 13 counties statewide.
“This funding will help lower emissions while also bringing our transit bus fleets to more modern standards,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said. “This is a win-win for air quality and advancing the state’s efforts to bolster growing electric vehicle usage.”
In October 2016, Volkswagen settled with the U.S. government resolving claims that it violated the Clean Air Act by selling diesel vehicles that violated the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s mobile source emission standards.
In February 2022, Florida DEP announced its Electric Transit Bus Grant program supporting the purchasing of electric transit buses to replace eligible diesel transit buses in an effort to improve Florida’s air quality.
Public transit agencies that are participating in this program must purchase two electric transit buses for each bus replaced under the DEP plan. An eligible public transit agency that does not meet this eligibility requirement may still participate but will be subject to a prorated portion of the award, according to the state.
Escambia (AL) Healthcare CEO Resigns, Later Arrested Twice At Local Hospital
August 30, 2022
A man that recently resigned as CEO of the Escambia County (AL) Health Care Authority (ECHCA) was later arrested twice on the campus of one of the Authority’s hospitals.
About 9:40 p.m. Friday, the Brewton Police Department responded to an “unwanted person on the campus” of D.W. McMillan Hospital.
Jeffrey Quentin Booth, 59, was arrested for public intoxication, booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center and released on his own recognizance. He was also officially trespass warned from the hospital, according to Brewton Police Sgt. Tyler Aaron.
According to jail records, he was released at 10:16 a.m. on Saturday and was booked back into the jail just over an hour and a half later.
Brewton Police responded about 11 a.m. Saturday to D.W. McMillan Hospital where Booth was back on the property, according to Aaron. He was charged with criminal trespassing and was released again from jail Saturday night.
Booth was named CEO of the ECHCA in 2019 and had reportedly resigned from his position last week.
ECHCA governs D.W. McMillan and Atmore Community hospitals, D.W. McMillan EMS, and other clinics and healthcare systems in Escambia County, Alabama.