Escambia Man Convicted Of Unlawful Sexual Activity With A Minor
August 5, 2022
An Escambia County man has been convicted by a jury of three counts of unlawful sexual activities with certain minors.
Darrel Tyrone Mays Sr., befriended a family that had fallen on hard times. Between August 2019 and January 2020, he took advantage of the situation and began having sex with the 17-year-old victim, according to prosecutors. He was 54-years old at the time.
Mays helped provide housing for the victim and her family. He threatened the victim that if she told anyone about him having sex with her that her family would be homeless again.
“This defendant preyed on a vulnerable victim during a difficult time in her family’s life and that makes him a danger to the community. This verdict provides some closure to the family,” prosecuting attorney Carrie Gilmer stated.
Mays faces up to 45 years in state prison when he is sentenced by Judge Jennie Kinsey in September. He will also be required to register as a sexual offender.
There is a second case pending against Mays with similar allegations by another victim.
Wahoos Split Doubleheader With Montgomery
August 5, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos split their doubleheader with the Montgomery Biscuits on Thursday night, falling 9-0 in game one but coming back to win the nightcap 4-2.
J.D. Osborne provided the biggest hit of the night, a go-ahead three-run homer in the fifth inning of game two that gave the Blue Wahoos the lead for good.
In game one, Pensacola managed only an infield single from Nasim Nuñez in a 9-0 defeat. Zach McCambley (L, 5-7) allowed a three-run homer to Niko Hulsizer in the first and back-to-back homers in the second to Evan Edwards and Tyler Frank before departing. The Biscuits added four more runs against reliever Zack Leban to stretch out their lead, more than enough for John Doxakis (W, 2-4), who turned in 6.0 scoreless innings.
In game two, Jefry Yan was excellent in his first professional start. The lefty, first of four relievers in a planned bullpen game, allowed only one hit over 3.0 scoreless innings. A Jordan Qsar RBI single against Andrew McInvale (W, 2-1) put Montgomery ahead 1-0 in the fourth, but Osborne’s blast against Biscuits starter Michael Mercado (L, 2-5) gave the Blue Wahoos the lead for good.
Cobie Fletcher-Vance added some insurance with a solo homer in the sixth, and Sean Reynolds (S, 1) worked the seventh and final inning for his first Double-A save.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series in Montgomery on Friday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Update: Investigators Say Flomaton Death Was A Homicide; Victim Named
August 4, 2022
UPDATE: A suspect has been arrested. Click here for an update to this story.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) confirms a homicide investigation is underway after a 52-year old Flomaton man was found dead Wednesday.
“Dwight Dixon, 52, of Flomaton, was found deceased when officers from the Flomaton Police Department responded to an emergency call on Dixon Road,” ALEA said.
D.W. McMillan EMS was dispatched to a home on Dixon Road about 8:50 a.m. Wednesday. Flomaton Police also responded, and called ALEA for assistance.
ALEA is now the lead agency in the death investigation.
“Nothing further is available as the investigation is ongoing. Once complete, the findings will be turned over to the Escambia County District Attorney’s Office,” according to ALEA.
“We are working the case along with them if they have need for any assistance,” Flomaton Police Chief Chance Thompson told NorthEscambia.com.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Explosion Rocks Atmore Recycling Facility
August 4, 2022
An explosion rocked a recycling yard in Atmore Thursday morning.
An employee of Atmore Recycling on West Nashville Avenue was using a cutting torch to cut a large fuel tank that had been scrapped. Officials said the cutting torch ignited some residual vapors inside the tank, causing the explosion.
The employee was taken to Atmore Community Hospital for evaluation and soon released.
There was minor damage to the drop ceiling reported at a nearby office building on Tennant Drive, adjacent to the recycling Center.
People in the surrounding area reported feeling the explosion.
Pictured top: A large fuel tank that had been scrapped exploded while it was being cut Thursday morning at a recycling company in Atmore. Pictured below: A drop ceiling at a nearby business was damaged. Photo (top) courtesy Andrew Garner/Atmore Advance and photos (below) reader submitted for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Update: Two Missing, Endangered Children Located
August 4, 2022
UPDATE: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says both children have been located.
Previous story:
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for two missing and endangered children last seen with their mother.
The ECOS said 10-year old Jordan Gunmar and 6-year old Jayce Franklin Mathis were last seen July 26 with 30-year old Brittany Breanne Franklin. There was no known clothing description available.
Anyone with information is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Sparkleberry: Escambia County Approves FPL Molino Solar Farm, The Third In North Escambia
August 4, 2022
The Escambia County Development Review Committee on Wednesday sign off on a third Florida Power & Light solar farm in North Escambia on hundreds of acres in Molino.
The Sparkleberry Solar Energy Center is planned for 553 acres south of the end of Pilgrim Trail. According to FPL, over 200,000 solar panels will generate nearly 75 megawatts — enough energy to power 15,000 homes. FPL must still obtain construction permits, and the development order remains valid for at least 18 months for them to do that.
No water or sewer facilities are required, and on-site stormwater retention areas will be constructed to accommodate the semi-impervious and impervious cover.
According to the development order, no protected trees will be removed, and FPL will not be required to plant any trees in mitigation.
The Molino solar farm is roughly the same size as two others in North Escambia.
The 300,000 solar panels at the Cotton Creek Solar Energy Center on Bogia Road near McDavid have been in operation since the first of the year, producing up to about 75 megawatts.
The First City Solar Energy Center, the second FPL solar site to be built in North Escambia, off Holland, Cox and Roach roads in McDavid is not yet operational. It also has a planned output of 75 megawatts.
NorthEscambia.com graphic showing the proposed location of the Sparkleberry Solar Energy Center in Molino, click to enlarge.
FDOT’s Reconstruction Of Highway 29 In Century Will Cost The Town $377K They Don’t Have
August 4, 2022
A $3.3 million Florida Department of Transportation resurfacing and major safety improvement project on Highway 29 this winter will come with a big price tag for Century.
As we first reported in June, FDOT plans a major reconstruction of Highway 29 from just south of East Highway 4 to the Alabama state line. The project includes the roadway reconstruction, curb and gutter, drainage upgrades, signal loop replacement, driveway modifications, and sidewalks — all paid for by the state.
But Century is facing an estimated $377,411.65 cost to relocate their water, wastewater and natural gas lines due to the highway project.
It’s money that Century does not have.
FDOT will loan Century the money on a 15-year note at 0% interest.
Dale Long, Century’s engineer, told the town council this week that he plans to explore if the town’s new Rural Community designation might allow for forgiveness of all, or part, of the loan amount.
Pictured: Looking south into Florida on Highway 29 in Century. Pictured inset: Part of a Highway 29 safety improvement project will include the realignment of this curve. Graphics below show project details. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia One Of Nine Counties Included In New Opioid Recovery Program
August 4, 2022
Escambia County is one of nine counties in the state to be included in a new opioid recovery program announced Wednesday by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
DeSantis said the piloted substance abuse and recovery network addiction care – Coordinated Opioid Recovery (CORE) – is the first of its kind in the nation, according to the governor.
“Biden’s border crisis has caused a massive infusion of drugs coming into our state,” DeSantis said. “This year we increased the penalties for individuals trafficking drugs in our state, and now we are giving Floridians the tools they need to break the substance abuse cycle. Substance abuse can affect any family at any time, so from education to law enforcement to treatment we are going to make sure that Floridians can take advantage of this new addiction recovery model.”
Escambia County County EMS Chief David Torsell said recently that Escambia County leads the state in opioid overdose deaths.
“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.”
As of August 1, Escambia EMS had responded to 1209 overdoses this year, with 37 of those in the last week.
“It is so vital for individuals contending with a substance use disorder to have access to the right array of services that will work for their individual needs,” said Department of Children and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris. “When agencies, stakeholders, and partners alike come together to bolster our state’s system of care, we can ensure that Floridians have access to comprehensive services when they need it most. Today’s announcement of the implementation of the CORE Network model throughout the state is yet another example of how the DeSantis administration is leveraging our state’s resources to help families move forward with dignity on their journey of recovery.”
“Addiction is heartbreaking for all involved, and we ultimately want to help people address the stress traumas that led them to addiction,” said State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo. “One day the standard of care will address the trauma and the stress, but until then we have the evidence-based practices that exist in place. This program is an applied, intensive application to managing addiction through powerful, effective practice that connects people to what they need to get out of the horrific cycle of addiction.”
The COREprogram was successfully piloted in Palm Beach County for nearly two years and will be expanding in up to 12 counties to break the overdose cycle. Floridians battling with addiction can utilize CORE for stabilization and to receive medical assisted treatment that is specialized to sustain a clean pathway to success. CORE will be expanded in two phases. Phase one counties include Escambia, Brevard, Clay, Duval,, Gulf, Manatee, Marion, Pasco, and Volusia counties.
District 5 Cottage Hill Neighborhood Cleanup Day Is Next Wednesday
August 4, 2022
Residents of Cottage Hill will have the opportunity to dispose of yard debris and other items free of charge Wednesday, August 10 during a District 5 Neighborhood Cleanup.
During neighborhood cleanups, Escambia County departments team up to bring services to residents in an effort to keep local neighborhoods clean and safe. Participating is easy: Residents in the cleanup area simply leave eligible items at the curb to be disposed of free of charge by Escambia County and partnering agencies.
All debris must be at the curb directly in front of residences in the area by 7 a.m. on the day of the cleanup. Tires and paint cans should be separate from all other debris. Debris piles should not be placed under low-hanging lines or near poles, fences or mailboxes. All items, including containers, will be collected.
Only residents in the designated cleanup area are able to participate in the neighborhood cleanup. Items left at the curb outside of the cleanup area will not be collected. The collection area is east of Highway 95A, between the side streets north of McKenzie Road to Eden Road and to the east of Williams Ditch Road (see map above).
Items eligible for removal include:
- Household appliances and electronics
- Household junk and debris
- Bicycles and toys
- Old furniture and mattresses
- Barbecue grills
- Household hazardous waste (old paint, motor oil, chemicals, batteries)
- Tires (limit 10 per household)
Items NOT eligible for removal include:
- Building materials (concrete, bricks, blocks, roofing, drywall or lumber)
- Explosives or ammunition
- Auto parts
- Dirt or sod
- Vehicles or vessels
- 55-gallon drums of fluids
The neighborhood cleanup initiative involves an aggressive cleanup effort, targeting different neighborhoods throughout the county, with crew members and volunteers picking up a variety of debris and waste, including electronics, furniture and household items.
Since 2016, more than 4,696 tons (9,392,000 pounds) of debris were collected and disposed of through the Community Redevelopment Agency’s Safe Neighborhood Program.
Biscuits Hand The Wahoos A Walk-Off Loss
August 4, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos were handed a bitter walk-off loss in their series opener against the Montgomery Biscuits on Wednesday night, falling 6-5 on a game-ending wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth.
Griffin Conine’s go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth for Pensacola was overshadowed by a game-tying home run from Montgomery’s Greg Jones in the ninth, setting the stage for the walk-off wild pitch that scored Osleivis Basabe with the winning run.
Pensacola starter Zach King was ambushed for three hits and a pair of runs in the first, but settled down to get through 4.1 innings without any further damage. An RBI single from Demetrius Sims in the third and a sacrifice fly from Troy Johnston in the fourth against Biscuits stasrter Evan McKendry tied things up 2-2.
In the sixth, Conine went deep to right-center field for a go-ahead homer to put the Blue Wahoos ahead 5-2. It was the team-leading 17th home run for Conine, and his third in as many games.
Montgomery scored an unearned run against Justin Evans in the bottom of the sixth, but Josh Simpson (L, 5-2) retired the Biscuits in order in the seventh and eighth. After a 1-2-3 top of the ninth for Biscuits reliever Graeme Stinson (W, 1-0), Simpson came back out for a third inning of work and walked Brett Wisely before serving up the game-tying homer to Greg Jones. After a walk and a single put runners at the corners with one out, Dylan Bice entered and threw a pitch in the dirt to bring home Basabe with the winning run.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series in Montgomery on Thursday with a doubleheader to make up Tuesday’s rainout.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos