Community Service Providers Meet In Century
July 20, 2022
Agencies and groups that offer community services in Century held a meeting of the minds Tuesday afternoon.
Opening Doors Northwest Florida facilitated the gathering that included 25 people in person with another 42 taking part virtually.
The groups discussed the services offered, and needed, in the Century area.
Participating groups included Pensacola Habitat for Humanity, CDAC Behavioral Healthcare, Community Action Program, Century Area Chamber of Commerce, Legal Services of North Florida and many others.
Photos for NorthEscabia.com, click to enlarge.
Downed Tree Limb Sparks Electrical Fire At Molino Home
July 19, 2022
A downed tree limb sparked a reported electrical fire Tuesday morning at Molino home.
A large oak limb brought down a power line at home on Molino Road and caused it to overheat at the outside electrical panel.
Escambia Fire Rescue responded and quickly brought the situation under control. There were no reports of injuries.
The Molino, Cantonment, Century, Walnut Hill, Ensley and Bellview stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue were initially dispatched, with many of those units canceled prior to arrival.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
‘We Are Number One’ – EMS Chief Says Escambia Leads Florida In Opioid Overdose Deaths
July 19, 2022
Escambia County leads the state in opioid overdose deaths, according to Escambia County EMS Chief David Torsell.
“We are number one. We get the trophy that nobody else wants. We are the ones recognized for that we don’t want to be recognized for. The state has absolutely recognized us as someone who needs assistance from the state in order to combat this problem.”
“In my 26-year career, I have not seen as much death from overdose in such a short amount of time as I’ve been in Escambia County,” Torsell said. He’s been in Escambia County since June 1, 2021. “A very sad thing.”
The state recently announced Escambia County is one of nine counties to be fully funded for an overdose assistance program that will offer addiction therapy services.
He said during the 2021 calendar year, Escambia County EMS administered 1,391 doses of Narcan, a medication that is given in hopes of stopping an opioid overdose. There were a total of 1,085 overdose calls in 2021.
Just over half way through 2022, Escambia EMS had administered 964 doses of Narcan. As of Monday, EMS had responded to 1,134 overdoses this year, with 42 of those in the last week.
“We’ve already surpassed last year’s overdose numbers in the first half of the year. We are going to double last year’s number,” the EMS chief said. “That is extremely concerning.”
He added that fortunately right now there are not a lot of overdoses among school-aged children. But he wants to use community partners like the Escambia County School District to help educate children about the dangers of the drug use they may see among adults at home.
“Fentanyl has become the bane of our existence. Previously, you go back years, you’re talking about cocaine, marijuana, things like that. But now, everything as we’re seeing has fentanyl in it,” Torsell said.
He said the fentanyl is often mixed with other illicit drugs, and people don’t know they are taking it until it’s too late.
“It’s extremely frustrating to see what we are seeing in our community and just know that it’s kind of become the norm,” he said.
But some days are worse than others.
Escambia EMS has seen 19 overdoses in one day in a six to eight block area. They are literally able to tell when a new batch of drugs arrives in a community or zip code. Those drugs, the EMS director said, are often given away for free.
“They are testing it. They want to see if it’s going to work. They want to see if it to them it’s good product.”
Escambia EMS often deals with overdose “frequent flyers”. For instance, someone will overdose at 6 a.m., be transported by ambulance to the hospital, and be discharged later in the day. Later the same afternoon, they are found to have overdosed again and are transported back to the hospital.
“Wash, rinse, repeat. It’s the same cycle over and over. So, we have to do something different that what we have done previously. We have to be more than reactive, we have to be proactive,” Torsell remarked. “And that’s what we are going to do.”
Torsell’s comments came as he spoke to the Escambia County School Board at the invitation of Kevin Adams, District 1 member and board chair.
Cantonment Man Accused Of Leading Pensacola Police On High Speed Chase
July 19, 2022
A Cantonment man is facing multiple charges for leading Pensacola Police on high speed chase that ended in a hospital parking lot.
Devin Joshua Marzan was charged with felony fleeing with disregard of safety to person or property, leaving the scene of a crash involving damage to property, obstructing without violence and possession of drug paraphernalia.
A check of the tag on a red Mitsubishi showed that it was not on the assigned vehicle, and a Pensacola Police Department officer attempted a traffic stop near the intersection of Olive Road and Johnson Avenue. Marzan turned west onto Johnson Avenue and attempted to flee from the marked PPD unit at speeds exceeding 80 mph, according to an arrest report. He continued, through a red light at Johnson Avenue and Olive and later into the West Florida Hospital parking lot. He struck concrete pillars surrounding a plastic gate, disabling his vehicle, the report continues.
Officers reported finding a digital scale with white powdery residue, along with a metal straw and a plastic straw with residue. The arrest report does not identify the residue.
Marzan ran though the hospital property and across University Avenue “before he fell down and was apprehended” the report states.
Marzan remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $19,500.
Rescuers Honored For Finding Flomaton Man Missing For 12 Hours On Creek
July 19, 2022
Several individuals were honored Monday afternoon by the Flomaton Police Department and Town Council for their part last week in locating a man with special needs that was missing for hours on a local creek.
The Flomaton Police Department’s Meritorious Service Award was presented to:
- Sheriff Heath Jackson
- Conservation Officer Adam Johnson
- Firefighter Jay Jackson
- Firefighter John Bondurant
- Firefighter Jered Carnley
- Firefighter Gavin Hinote
- Citizen Travis Johnson
- FPD Officer Tyler Sigler
Gerry Don Thompson was last seen about 6 p.m. July in the area of the Flomaton Boat Landing on Big Escambia Creek, just off Highway 31 and the Skippy White Bridge. According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, he is a 33-year old that lives with a condition that may impair his judgment.
He was located safe about 12 hours later.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Mini Cheer Clinic To Be Held July 30
July 19, 2022
The Northview High School cheerleaders will hold a Back To School Mini Chief Cheer Clinic on Saturday, July 30.
Campers ages 5-12 will learn individual cheer skills, partner stunts, a spirit dance, and most have fun. They will also have the opportunity to cheer with the NHS cheerleaders under the Friday night lights at an upcoming Northview football game.
Comfortable clothes and tennis shoes are recommended.
Registration will open at 8:30 a.m. on July 30; the cost is $35 per child. The camp will take place from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., with a family performance at 1:30 p.m.
Update: Flomaton Police Locate Missing Teen
July 19, 2022
UPDATE: Flomaton Police said this missing teen has been located and is safe.
The Flomaton Police Department is looking for a missing teen.
Tyree Dorth, 14, was last seen late Monday night in the area of MLK Drive in Flomaton.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Flomaton Police Department at (251) 296-5811 or 911.
Vote-By-Ballots Are On The Way
July 19, 2022
Nearly 40,000 vote-by-mail ballots are headed to Escambia County mailboxes for the August 23 primary election, according to Supervisor of Elections David Stafford. This is in addition to ballots sent to military and overseas voters earlier this month.
Voters who have requested to vote by mail should begin receiving their ballot packages within a week. After completing the ballot, the voter must sign and date the return envelope and return it by mail (postage paid) or deliver it to elections office or an early voting site during early voting hours. Ballots must be received by the Supervisor of Elections no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day. All vote-by-mail ballots are verified prior to tabulation. Complete voter instructions are included in the package.
The U.S. Postal Service recommends voters mail ballots at least one week before the due date.
The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot for the primary election is 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 13. To request a vote-by-mail ballot visit EscambiaVotes.gov and click “Vote-by-Mail” or contact the Supervisor of Elections Office at (850) 595-3900.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Silver Alert Canceled
July 18, 2022
UPDATE: The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has canceled this Silver Alert.
A Florida Silver Alert has been issued for 83-year old Carl McCall, last seen in the area of the 8500 block of Blue Jay Way in Pensacola.
He was wearing a blue t-shirt, blue jeans and black shoes. He may be traveling in a 2015 blue Subaru Outback with Florida tag number 2289UB.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or 911.
Escambia School Board Divided On Potential Property Tax Increase
July 18, 2022
The Escambia County School Board currently stands divided on a potential property tax increase.
The taxable property value in Escambia County is $27.5 billion dollars, according to the district, up $4.3 billion over the current tax year due to increases in real estate values and new construction.
Keeping the 2023 millage rate at 2022’s 1.214 mils would generate $32 million and put over $2 million into reserves. The district has the option of upping the millage rate to 1.5, which would mean $39.6 million in funding.
It’s estimated that the projects that can be funded by the property tax revenue will cost $29.6 million.
But keeping the millage rate the same for the upcoming year would technically be a tax increase. A lower rolled-back rate is the tax rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenue as approved for the prior year. A millage rate higher than the rolled-back rate is defined by the state of Florida as a tax increase. The district won’t know the rollback rate until later this week.
“You know me. I would go with 1.5 mils if I could, but I know I don’t have any support there,” board member Patty Hightower said. The 1.5 mils rate would be the highest tax increase allowed by law. She said the district needs the revenue after overspending by $3 million last year.
“We’ve got to make sure we have the funds to cover those inflation costs,” Hightower said, citing a 9.1% inflation rate the district faces on purchases.
“People out there are suffering through the same inflation that we’ve got going on,” board chairman Kevin Adams replied. “There is no way that I’m going to support a tax increase on the citizens of Escambia County. It’s not happening with me. Now the rest of my board members, if they want to join that party, it’s up to you.”
Adams said he would support the rolled-back rate and adjust the budget accordingly. He said the citizens of Escambia County will not support a property tax increase, especially after the school district has seen an increase in sales tax revenue and federal dollars.
“I will support the 1.214,” District 5 board member Bill Slayton said, later adding that he would vote for the rate necessary to maintain the same level of funding.
“I am not going to support a tax increase either,” Paul Fetsko said. I agree we’ve got the revenue coming from half cents sales tax.”
Adams, as the chairperson running a recent board workshop meeting, turned to member Dr. Laura Edler and asked for her opinion as the deciding vote.
“I could get sick that day,” Edler quipped.
Pictured top: Escambia County School Board Chairperson Kevin Adams explains that he will not support a tax increase. Pictured inset: Board member Patty Hightower. Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.