Flomaton Man Charged With Century Marine Burglary
June 16, 2022
A Flomaton man was arrested this week on an outstanding warrant for two burglaries that occurred during 2020 at Century Marine.
Aaron Keith Baxter, 33, is charged with felony burglary and grand theft. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning with bond set at $4,000.
In June 2020, Baxter allegedly climbed over a perimeter fence and entered a coverage workshop, stealing an Evinrude boat motor, air compressor, three boat seat pedestals and a three gallon boat fuel tank. The total value of the items was $3,550. In October 2020 he allegedly stole a boat valued at $950 during a burglary of the business on North Century Boulevard.
The stolen items were recovered in 2020 from a property on Pineview Circle in Flomaton and returned to Century Marine.
Charges against an alleged accomplice in the burglaries were later dropped.
DeSantis Unveils The Florida State Guard, Announces Director
June 16, 2022
Wednesday, Florida Gov. unveiled the Florida State Guard and introduced the new director of this emergency-focused civilian volunteer force, retired Marine Corps. Lieutenant Colonel Chris Graham.
By bringing back the Florida State Guard, Florida now joins 22 other states and territories with state-level defense forces, and many other states have laws on the books allowing for the activation of these organizations. Florida will add 400 members of the Florida State Guard to respond to a projected active hurricane season, and more than 1,200 individuals have already expressed interest in joining.
“The U.S. military has been kicking out great service members over the Biden administration’s unacceptable COVID vaccine mandate, and they are even targeting members of the National Guard,” said DeSantis. “The bureaucrats in D.C. who control our National Guard have also refused to increase the number of guardsmen despite our increasing population, leaving Florida with the second worst National Guardsman to resident ratio. By reestablishing the Florida State Guard under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Graham, we have a great opportunity to expand our capability to help people in times of need or disaster.”
“Two months ago I retired from the Marine Corps. as a Lieutenant Colonel after two decades plus of service, and once I saw the opening to become the Director of the State Guard, I decided that two months of retirement was all I needed,” said Graham. “This is an unbelievable privilege to reestablish and build from the ground up a modern state defense force. Florida will be joining 22 other states and territories with state guards, but we have an opportunity to break new ground and deliver a 10-fold investment for Floridians.”
Walnut Hill Man Named UF Top Rancher Challenge Champion
June 16, 2022
A Walnut Hill man has been named the champion of the 2022 University of Florida Top Rancher Challenge.
Che Trejo, who is a technical services veterinarian for Merck, won the challenge at the Florida Cattlemen’s Association Convention in Marco Island.
There were 179 FCA members and guests who competed in the challenge. Trejo won with a score of 91 out of a possible 106 points.
Pictured: Chris Prevatt, UF/IFAS livestock economist; Laura Trejo; UF Top Rancher Challenge Champion Che Trejo; and Doug Mayo, UF/IFAS Extension, Jackson County. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino 8U Softball Finishes Second In Tournament
June 16, 2022
Molino Ballpark’s 8U All-Stars finished second in the recent Gulf Coast Girls Softball Association All-Star Tournament. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Johnston Walks It Off Again In 5-4, 11-Inning Wahoos Win
June 16, 2022
Troy Johnston was the hero again for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Wednesday night, providing a walk-off double in the bottom of the 11th for a 5-4 win over the Tennessee Smokies.
Johnston, who was 3-for-6 on the night, slashed a base hit into the left field corner to score Bubba Hollins with the winning run. It was Pensacola’s sixth walk-off win of the season, and fifth in their past eight home games.
The Blue Wahoos maintained their 4.5-game lead in the South Division with 10 to play in the first half.
Eury Pérez was sharp his his start for Pensacola, allowing only one run on four hits over 5.0 innings with 5 strikeouts. He departed with a 3-1 lead thanks to a three-run homer from Thomas Jones in the second inning.
The Smokies rallied against reliever Eli Villalobos, scoring a run on a wild pitch in the sixth and two more in the seventh on a Bradlee Beesley RBI single and Matt Mervis fielder’s choice to take a 4-3 lead.
Griffin Conine tied the game in the eighth with a solo blast, his ninth of the year. Colton Hock (W, 5-2) pitched brilliantly, working three perfect innings and striking out four while stranding the placed runner at second base in both the 10th and 11th innings.
The Blue Wahoos couldn’t convert in the 10th, but quickly established a rally in the 11th against Nicholas Padilla (L, 1-1). Bubba Hollins reached on a fielder’s choice and Ray-Patrick Didder walked before Johnston’s walk-off hit.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Tennessee Smokies on Thursday.
by Eric Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Mike Hill Files In House District 1 Race Against Rep. Michelle Salzman
June 15, 2022
Former Rep. Mike Hill wants his old job back. He has filed paperwork to run in the Republican primary for the seat currently held by District 1 Rep. Michelle Salzman.
Salzman defeated Hill in the 2020 GOP primary by about 1,000 votes — five percentage points. In her campaign, Salzman highlighted the fact that Hill failed to get any bill that he sponsored passed or any appropriation approved in the Florida Legislature.
“I’ve really enjoyed being able to build relationships throughout from local, to state and federal level officials and serving the constituents,” Salzman told NorthEscambia.com Tuesday afternoon. “We were able to get some really good conservative legislation passed, and bring home a record amount of dollars to our communities. I can continue our momentum for our infrastructure, fighting for our firefighters and public safety, and making sure that all children have access to good quality, choice education.”
Hill did not respond to a NorthEscambia.com phone call and text seeking comment Tuesday afternoon.
Hill, a local insurance agent, was first elected during a 2013 special election in House District 2. He ran unsuccessfully for state Senate in 2016. In 2018, he ran for House District 1, defeating Rebecca Bydlak after releasing a video recorded at the Confederate monument in downtown Pensacola claiming that he would bring the Donald Trump Hollywood star to Pensacola. That never happened, and now the monument has been dismantled.
Salzman has qualified for the GOP ballot, meeting the petition requirement. According to the Florida Division of Elections, Hill filed on Tuesday, but has not yet fully qualified. The deadline is noon Friday.
Residents Get Help With Government Issues During Molino Constituent Services Day
June 15, 2022
Local residents were able to receive the assistance they needed from various government offices during a Constituent Services Day in Molino Tuesday.
Rep. Michelle Salzman coordinated the event the Molino Community Center. Staff members were on hand from the offices of U.S. Senator Rick Scott, U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz and Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry. ECUA, Florida Power & Light, and Flood Defenders also took part.
“I need a new roof and have to deal with insurance, but can’t have insurance without the roof. It needs to be ready for the hurricane season,” Paula Maria Brown said. She stopped by to learn more from Salzmans’ office about the My Safe Florida Home program. She said the Constituent Services work day was a great idea to give citizens access to their representatives.
“It brings people together. It bring our leaders, our officers, our representatives to our neighborhood. We get to meet with them, and it’s such a great pleasure and a great privilege,” Brown said.
Gaetz District Aid Jason Boatwright said he was able to assist with a wide variety of issues, including hearing aides for a veteran and a Purple Heart issue for another veteran.
Over 80 people took part in Tuesday’s event, and Salzman said she hopes to coordinate another Constituent Services work day later this year.
Salzman also took the time to teach a little civics lesson to a young man that wanted to meet her.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Beulah Middle School’s Leanne Jenkins Named Florida’s 2022 FFA Advisor Of The Year
June 15, 2022
Beulah Middle School’s Leanne Jenkins has been named Florida’s 2022 FFA Advisor of the Year.
Jay High School FFA advisor Kaylen Finley was also among the five statewide nominees.
The award recognizes educators who have made a positive difference in the lives of their students. Individuals nominated must have taught for at least three years and have provided outstanding service to their FFA chapter, agricultural industry, and agricultural education.
The announcement was made Tuesday night at the 94th Florida FFA State Convention at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando.
Pictured above: Beulah Middle School’s Leanne Jenkins was named Florida’s 2022 FFA Advisor of the Year. Pictured below: Jenkins celebrates with her Beulah Middle FFA members Tuesday night in Orlando. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECSO: Cantonment Vehicle Burglary Suspects Caught On Camera Using Stolen Credit Card
June 15, 2022
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate several car burglaries in Cantonment and Gonzalez.
As we previously reported, the burglaries occurred early Monday morning in the area of Kingsfield Road, Chemstrand Road, and Old Chemstrand Road. All of the vehicles were reported to be unlocked.
Investigators said the suspects in these newly released photos used a credit card that was stolen from one of the vehicles to make a purchase at a store located in the 200 block of Highway 29.
The pictured vehicle below was seen in the area during these burglaries. The ECSO said one of the individuals in the vehicle appears to be a white male wearing a long-sleeved Champion shirt, blue shorts, black shoes, and a blue ski mask.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Trial Underway For Cantonment Man Charged With Murdering His Navy Wife In 2001
June 15, 2022
Trial is underway this week for a Cantonment man indicted in 2020 for the murder of his wife over two decades ago.
An Escambia County grand jury indicted Gregory Paul Malarik, now 59, for first degree premeditated murder with a firearm. His trial before Judge John Simon is expected to continue through at least Thursday.
Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrested Malarik for the 2001 murder of his wife, Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Sherri Malarik. Gregory Malarik, a former Navy Petty Officer 1st Class, was employed by the Naval Aviation Technical Training Center aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola.
The body of Sherri Lynn Malarik was found September 22, 2001, at about 8 a.m. inside a Dodge Caravan in the parking lot of the Winn Dixie and Movie Gallery at 1550 South Highway 29, less than three miles from the couple’s home. She was found by her brother-in-law, Jeff Leake.
“It was unlocked, I opened it and I was screaming ‘Sherri’ and I touched her and kind of shook her arm a little bit,” Leake said. “She didn’t move.”
An autopsy found that she was murdered – shot twice in the head with a .25 caliber handgun. She was found in the floorboard of the van. Forensic evidence indicated that she was shot while seated in the passenger seat.
The investigation revealed he was engaged in an extramarital affair with Jennifer Spohn who, at that time, was his co-worker. Spohn later disclosed that he wanted to end the marriage but, having previously been married, did not want to go through another divorce proceeding. She related a conversation to investigators in which Gregory Malarick suggested he should just kill Sherri.
Investigators said they believed Gregory Malarik drove Sherri Malarik to the Winn Dixie in the minivan. Gregory told Sphon to meet him later that evening at the Winn Dixie to pick him up. When Spohn arrived at Winn Dixie at the appointed time, Gregory was there with the van, got into her vehicle, and told her to drive normally. Once out on Highway 29, Gregory discarded what appeared to be a long-haired wig. Spohn then dropped Gregory off at the marital residence.
Swabs taken from his hands the day of the murder were positive for gunshot residue, and pants believed to have been worn the night of the murder were found to have gunpowder in the left front pocket, the report states.
In 2017, a NCIS investigator examined phone records from the Malarik residence from the night of September 21, 2001. He found that multiple calls were made at 6:29 p.m., 7:59 p.m., 8 p.m. at 8:47 p.m. “This provided two periods of time sufficient for Malarik to have committed the homicide, transported (Sherri) Malarik’s body to Winn Dixie, and returned home,” the report states.
The .25 caliber handgun used in the murder was never recovered, but the investigation revealed Gregory Malarik owned such a weapon at the time of the homicide.
The arrest report states that emails recovered show Gregory Malarik and his mistress had discussed “how to trick a polygraph” as early July 31, 2001.
An email from Sherri Malarik to her sister stated: “I believe that there is spiritual warfare going on in my home and Greg just can’t see it…He is simply upset because he feel that I put other people before him when I listed to the possibility of masonry being something other than it seems…He feels as if I betrayed him. Please keep us in your prayers…we need all the help we can get.”
Spohn was re-interviewed in May 7, 2002, and gave a similar account to her 2001 statements. Spohn was interviewed again on March 6, 2020, during which she gave testimony that was inconsistent with her original statement, the arrest report states, leading investigators to believe her original statement about returning a lawn mower was a cover story. Those statements were redacted. Investigators believe she assisted in the homicide and the destruction of evidence which had been preplanned, possibility for several months as indicated by emails.
Spohn was offered immunity for her testimony.