Beulah Middle Teacher, Store Clerk And A Bagpipe Player Honored With Citizen Awards
June 3, 2022
Escambia County Sheriff Chip W. Simmons acknowledged commitment, care for fellow man, and heroism within the community Thursday at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Citizen’s Awards Ceremony. The ceremony honors those whose actions are deemed important or heroic and make the county a better place to live.
“We are here because there are those who act…those who want to make our world a better place,” Simmons said.
The awards were presented to:
Patrick Cornelius is a teacher at Beulah Middle School. In March, Cornelius took action, without hesitation, when he noticed a student was choking on their food in the lunchroom. Due to his actions, the student made a full recovery. Patrick was presented with the Sheriff’s Medal for life-saving.
Sarah Emerich is an employee of the Circle K store on W Street. In March, Emerich was working with her co-worker, Joie Hellmich, when a female entered the store, poured gasoline, and threw lit matches at Hellmich. These lit matches ultimately caught Hellmich on fire. Emerich tried valiantly to distinguish the fire. Emerich was presented with the Sheriff’s Medal for life-saving.
Michael Vazzana has volunteered his unique services playing the bagpipes to the ECSO during our annual Fallen Officer Memorial for many years. He was presented with the Sheriff’s Medal for his service to the memory of fallen heroes.
Pictured: Patrick Cornelius (top), Sarah Emerich (first below) and Michael Vazzana (bottom). Photos for NorthEsambia.com, click to enlarge.
Take Stock in Children Awards $242,000 In Scholarships To Escambia Graduates
June 3, 2022
Take Stock in Children and the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation awarded $242,000 in scholarships at a recent “Graduation & Unsung Hero Celebration”.
The event honored 19 graduating seniors who each received four-year tuition scholarships and a laptop computer. Also recognized were all of the volunteer mentors of our students and scholarship donors.
The 2022 Take Stock in Children graduates are:
Northview High
Miyhanna Davidson
Jonathan Gibbs
Paige Gibbs
Pensacola High
LaDarrien Kimble
Aidan Sidner-Palafox
Pine Forest High
Jakiah Henderson-Young
Jaydah Lett,
Makia Samuel
Washington High
Adrianna Blackmon
Abbie Brunson
Chelsea Hotopp
Rebecca KurauWilliam Ngo
West Florida High
Madison Hayes
Centyah Moye
Tho Pham
Matthew Setzer
Harley Walker
Okaloosa County transfer Malik Williams was also honored.
Take Stock in Children was established in 1995 as a non-profit organization in Florida operating locally under the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation. The program provides a unique opportunity for deserving low-income students to escape the cycle of poverty through education. Students are selected through a need-based application process in middle school, and comprehensive services continue through high school and include the students’ transition into college. Students receive college scholarships, caring volunteer mentors, college readiness skills, and hope for a better life.
Scholarships are funded through a unique public-private fundraising model in which local scholarship donations are matched by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation when scholarships are purchased each year. Laptops were donated through a program founded by Nick & Nathan Gupta and currently coordinated by Aiden Hayward.
Pictured top: From Northview High School, Take Stock in Children mentor Craig Exner, and students Miyhanna Davidson, Jonathan Gibbs, and Paige Gibbs. Pictured below: Members of the Take Stock in Children Class of 2022. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Beulah Elementary Custodian Possessed Over 200 Child Porn Images And Videos, ECSO Says
June 3, 2022
A former Beulah Elementary School custodian was arrested for the alleged possession of more than 200 child pornography images after an investigation that lasted for months.
DeAntonio Dornell Jackson, 35, was charged with 20 counts of possession of 10 or more child pornography images.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTipline reported to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that two child sexual abuse video files were uploaded to a pornography website and two child sexual abuse images were uploaded to Google Photos.
The uploading IP address was traced to Jackson and his residence at 5829 Last Big Tree Lane. A search warrant was executed at the residence, where at least one child pornography images was found on a memory card concealed in his bedroom.
Jackson was quested at Beulah Elementary School. He stated that he did view child sexual abuse materials one time, allegedly on accident. He told investigators that he viewed adult pornography daily, and also watched adult pornography while siting in his vehicle at the elementary school, his arrest report states.
An analysis of Jackson’s cellphone found over 200 child porn images, “some of which depicted infants, toddlers, and children under the age of five”, the report states.
Investigators said thumbnails on his Google Drive account showed adults engaged in sexual acts. Those images were uploaded from Beulah Elementary School.
Jackson remained in the Escambia County Jail Friday morning with bond set at $300,000.
The Escambia County School District said Jackson is no longer an employee.
Shuckers Top Wahoos 10-7
June 3, 2022
Despite a strong offensive performance, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos couldn’t hold a pair of early leads in a 10-7 loss to the Biloxi Shuckers on Thursday night.
Troy Johnston went 4-for-5 with a homer and three runs batted in, improving his batting average to .538 (21-for-39) through the first nine games of Pensacola’s homestand. The first baseman now has multi-hit games in 7 of his last 8 games dating back to last Wednesday, and is batting .298 on the season.
Johnston homered in the bottom of the first to give the Blue Wahoos a 1-0 lead, but it didn’t last long as Biloxi’s Cam Devanney answered in the second against Zach McCambley (L, 2-4) with a solo homer of his own. A Terence Doston RBI single in the fourth gave the Shuckers a 2-1 lead.
Griffin Conine followed a Johnston single in the fifth with a two-run homer, his eighth of the year, giving the Blue Wahoos a 3-2 advantage. The Shuckers retaliated once again in the sixth with a four-run frame, as RBI singles from Yeison Coca and Doston were followed by a two-run double from Felix Valerio to give Biloxi the lead for good.
Shuckers starter T.J. Shook (W, 1-0) completed 6.0 innings for his longest Double-A start, and Pensacola’s bullpen struggles enabled Biloxi to extend their advantage. Noah Campbell hit an RBI triple in the seventh against George Soriano, and Thomas Dillard and Tristen Lutz hit back-to-back homers against Colton Hock in the eighth before Doston capped the scoring with an RBI double in the ninth.
Johnston added a two-run double in the eighth and Luis Aviles hit a two-run double in the ninth, but it wasn’t enough for the Blue Wahoos as they dropped their first game of the series.
With the loss, Pensacola’s lead in the South Division has shrunk to 0.5 games over the Shuckers with 21 to play in the first half.
The Blue Wahoos continue their homestand against the Biloxi Shuckers on Friday.
written by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
RV Destroyed By Fire In Beulah; Firefighters Believe Shots Were Fired At Them
June 2, 2022
Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to a RV fire in Beulah Thursday afternoon where a firefighter believed he was being shot at.
Firefighters were called to the end of Waldroup Lane, a dirt road off Woodside Road just south of Beulah Elementary School.
A firefighter arriving on scene thought he was being shot at, according to Amber Southard, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office public information officer. Deputies responded and took one person into custody while they investigated. She said it was determined that there was “no evidence of a shooting”, and the person was released with no charges.
The RV was a complete loss.
Firefighters staged at nearby Beulah Elementary School until the ECSO determined the scene was safe, according to Davis Wood with Escambia County Fire Rescue.
There were no injuries reported.
Photos by ECFR for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Three Century Council Seats Up For Election This Year
June 2, 2022
Three seats on the Century Town Council will be up for election this year.
They are Seat 3, currently held by Leonard White; Seat 4, currently held by James Smith, Jr.; and Seat 5, currently held by Sandra McMurray Jackson.
The qualifying period for the seats is noon June 13 until noon June 17. A qualifying officer from the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office will be at Century Town Hall on Wednesday, June 15 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. to accept qualifying paperwork.
Florida law allows the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office in Pensacola to accept and hold qualifying documents beginning 14 days prior to the start of qualifying, which was May 30. These documents will then be processed beginning at noon on June 13.
If there are only two candidates for a seat, they will be on the ballot in the general election on November 8. If there are three or more candidates for a seat, they will be on the August 23 primary ballot with a runoff in November if no candidate receives one vote more than 50 percent.
Pictured top: Leonard White, James Smith, Jr., and Sandra McMurray Jackson at the most recent Century Town Council meeting on May 3.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Softball Presents $31,000 From ‘Strike Out Cancer Game’ To American Cancer Society
June 2, 2022
The Tate Lady Aggies softball team has presented $31,000 in proceeds from this year’s Strike Out Cancer game to the local chapter American Cancer Society.
During the game in late March, Tate defeated West Florida 2-1 in a long 11 innings..
For a photo gallery from the game, click or tap here.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Stamp Out Hunger Nets 188K Pounds Of Food In Escambia, Santa Rosa
June 2, 2022
Local residents stepped up in a big way during the recent “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive.
Escambia and Santa Rosa letter carriers collected more than 188,800 pounds of food during the drive on May 14. This is the most successful Stamp Out Hunger food drive in more than a decade.
The donated food will benefit individuals and families struggling with food insecurity served by Manna Food Pantries, Feeding the Gulf Coast, ACTS Ministries, We Care Ministries, and Warrington Emergency Aid Center.
“All five agencies are humbled by our community’s generous support,” said Manna Executive Director DeDe Flounlacker. “Thanks to local donations, nearly 181,000 meals will be made available in the coming months to children, senior citizens, veterans, families, and individuals who are struggling to put food on the table.”
This was the 30th year for the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive. It is the largest, national, single-day effort to put food on the table for millions of Americans.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Workforce Education Programs Lead The Way In Industry Certifications
June 2, 2022
More than 1 in 10 entrepreneurship and small business certifications awarded in Florida last school year were by Escambia County students.
Over 7,500 students in the state earned a certification, with 771 of those in Escambia County
Certifications were awarded at local schools as follows:
- West Florida High – 296
- Tate High – 192
- Pine Forest High – 100
- Northview High – 86
- Washington High – 70
- Pensacola High – 18
- Escambia High – 9
“Students in Escambia County are learning the skills they need to become the business leaders of tomorrow,” said Escambia County School District Director of Workforce Education Steven Harrell. “These certifications prove these students have learned the core concepts of entrepreneurship, like recognizing and evaluating opportunities; planning for, starting, and operating a business; marketing and sales; venture capital and seed funding; and financial management.”
Two License-Free Fishing Weekends This Month In Florida
June 2, 2022
There are two license-free fishing weekends coming up this month in Florida.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has set license-free weekends of June 4-5 for saltwater and June 11-12 for freshwater.
License-free fishing days provide a fun opportunity for new anglers to try fishing for the first time or experienced anglers to introduce a friend or family member to a new hobby. The fishing license requirements are waived for all recreational anglers during these dates but all other rules including seasons, bag and size limits still apply.