County Set To Approve $8.44 Million Beulah Fire Station Contract Thursday, Break Ground Friday
May 4, 2022
Escambia County is set to approve the construction contract for the new Beulah Fire Station on Thursday, the day before a groundbreaking ceremony.
The recommended low bidder on the project is Emerald Coast Constructors for $8.44 million. Five other bids ranged from about $10.15 million to $12.45 million. The construction will be funded with Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) funds.
The existing Beulah Fire Station was built in 1977 and is at the end of its useful life, according to the county. The proposed new facility will be a total of 14,503 square feet area and have four vehicle bays including one for EMS, along with a small community meeting/training room.
The new facility will be constructed behind the current station at 6400 West Nine Mile Road. A groundbreaking ceremony for the facility will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, and the public is invited.
As NorthEscambia.com first reported last month, the new fire station will likely be named in honor of two local heroes.
“It will be my intention to dedicate the facility to two men and their families who have sacrificed so much over the years to this community and this station,” Escambia County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh said.
He intends to ask the commission to approve the name “The Bradshaw-McNair Fire Station” in honor of Chief Dwain S. Bradshaw who died in the line of duty in November 2019, and Chief Steve McNair who dedicated over 50 years to fire service in Beulah.
A paid fire crew has staffed the current Beulah Fire Station since October 2021 from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Volunteers cover responses at other times.
Tate Beats Crestview To Head To District Championship Game
May 4, 2022
The Tate Aggies advanced to the 1-6A championship game on Thursday with a big 12-2 semifinal win over Crestview Tuesday night.
Josiah Glodfelter pitched a complete game for Tate, allowing five hits and two runs in five innings while striking out three.
Cady Kelly led the Aggies at the plate with two hits. Clif Quiggins, Drew Reaves, Bray Touchstone, Jackson Penton and Jay Davis had one hit apiece.
No 2. Tate will face No. 1 Pace Thursday for the district championship.
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NorthEscambia.com photos by Laura Glodfelter, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Woman Charged With Escambia High Speed Chase That Led To Shots Fired SWAT Standoff
May 4, 2022
A Cantonment woman arrested last year in Alabama in a shots fired standoff with a SWAT team has now been charged in Florida for a high speed chase through North Escambia.
Amanda Nicole Thompson, 37, fled from Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office deputies on October 16. 2021, when they attempted to stop her due to outstanding warrants. The pursuit crossed from Muscogee Road onto Highway 112 in Alabama. She came to a stop in afield near Highway 112 and Tower Road, nearly nine miles into Alabama. She allegedly fired a handgun several times, prompting the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office to respond with SWAT and K-9 units, and close the roadway. Authorities said Thompson barricaded herself in her vehicle. After about three hours of negotiations, she exited the vehicle early Sunday morning with the firearm.
Thompson was booked into the Escambia County Jail on charges of felony fleeing and eluding with disregard to others and driving with a suspended license. She remained in jail Wednesday morning without bond.
An Escambia County deputy spotted Thompson driving a 1999 Ford E350 van painted in a camouflage pattern on Holsberry Road. The deputy followed her east on Ten Mile Road, north on Chemstrand Road, west on Kingsfield Road and north on Pauline Street while warrants were checked. An active Baldwin County warrant for kidnapping and Florida warrants for violation of probation on a felony battery charged and criminal mischief were verified.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy activated his lights and sirens on his marked patrol vehicle at Pauline Street and Archer Road. Thompson continued north on Highway 95A where a PIT maneuver was unsuccessfully attempted to stop her van. She continued to Highway 29 and went through a red light at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road, according to an arrest report, and continued into Baldwin County.
Speeds in the pursuit through North Escambia ranged from 22 to 99 mph, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Northview Shuts Out Baker, Advances To District Championship Against Jay
May 4, 2022
Jamarkus Jefferson threw a complete game shutout Tuesday night as Northview beat No. 4 Baker 10-0 in Bratt.
No. 1 Northview advances to the District 1-1A championship against No. 2 Jay at 7 p.m. Thursday at Northview. Jay beat No. 3 Central 9-2 Tuesday afternoon.
Jefferson gave up just one hit in five innings while striking out eight for Northview.
Josh Landis went 3-3 to lead the Chiefs at the plate. Jefferson and Rustin Pope had two hits each. The remainder of Northview’s starting lineup had one hit each — Kaden Odom, Luke Bridges, Ethan Collier, Wyatt Scruggs, Trent Knighten and Cason Burkett.
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NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Softball Beats Paxton, Will Face Jay For District Championship
May 4, 2022
The No. 3 Northview Lady Chiefs beat No. 2 Paxton 4-3 Tuesday night in the district semifinals in Paxton.
They will advance to the district championship in Jay at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Jay Royals. No. 1 Jay beat No 4. Baker 12-0 Tuesday.
Northview’s Jamison Gilman allowed five hits and three runs while striking out five over six innings. Emma Gilmore pitched one inning in relief, allowing one hit and striking out two.
Kaitlin Gafford and Kayla Dixon had two hits each for the Lady Chiefs. Gilman, Gilmore, and Kailyn Watson each had one hit.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Extension Offering ‘Basics Of Canning’ Class
May 4, 2022
Escambia County Extension will offer a class this month on the Basics of Canning on Saturday, May 14.
Participants can learn how to preserve fruits and vegetables.
The program will take place from 10 a.m. until noon at the Extension office at 3740 Stefani Road in Cantonment.
Register online and buy tickets in advance at Eventbrite for $10 (plus fee) or $12 if preregistered by check only. The registration deadline is May 12. Call (850) 475-5230.
Tate Lady Aggies Fall Short in District Semifinals
May 4, 2022
The No. 4 Tate Lady Aggies fell short in the 1-6A district semifinals Tuesday as they lost to No. 1 Pace 4-0.
Tate’s Courtney Lundquist gave up three runs on five hits in five innings while striking out four. Jordan Smith pitched one inning, surrendering one run.
Kara Wine went 2-3 with a double to lead the Lady Aggies at the plate. Lacy Wilson and Aaliyah Jordan added one hit each.
File photos.
M-Braves Top Wahoos 3-2 Despite Didder’s Dinger
May 4, 2022
Ray-Patrick Didder had three hits against his former team, including his third home run of the season, but the Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell short in their series opener against the Mississippi Braves by a score of 3-2 on Tuesday night.
George Soriano (L, 0-1) had his longest start of the season, allowing three runs on six hits over 5.0 innings, but was outdueled by Mississippi’s Darius Vines (W, 2-1), who held Pensacola to two runs, one earned, over 5.0 frames.
The Braves struck first in the second inning on C.J. Alexander’s first home run of the season. Didder evened the score with a solo blast of his own in the third, but Mississippi scored two more in the fourth to take the lead for good. Drew Lugbauer blasted a solo homer off of Soriano to start the inning, and a Justin Dean sacrifice fly followed to make the score 3-1.
Didder led off the fifth inning with a single, stole second and took third on a throwing error before scoring on a Jerar Encarnacion groundout. That cut the deficit to 3-2, but the Blue Wahoos couldn’t put anything together on offense for the rest of the night. Victor Vodnik (S, 1) worked a quick ninth to earn his first save.
Anthony Maldonado, Jefry Yan and Josh Simpson each contributed a scoreless inning of relief for Pensacola. Simpson has now started his season with 12.1 scoreless innings of three-hit baseball with 25 strikeouts.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Mississippi Braves on Wednesday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Cantonment Man Accused Of Molesting Girl Under 12
May 3, 2022
A Cantonment man is accused of molesting a girl under age 12.
Brandon Christopher White, 31, was charged with felony sexual molestation of a victim under 12 years of age. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $100,000.
White allegedly touched the female victim inappropriately over a period of about three years.
According to an arrest report, White admitted that about one year ago, the victim fell asleep in his bed and when he woke up, “he was scratching her back with his hand under her shirt, and his other hand was on her buttocks”.
“Brandon said it was scary for him, and he became concerned about falling asleep with people,” the report continues.
The victim told investigators that he had touched her in other inappropriate ways, the report states.
According to investigators, the victim disclosed the sexual abuse and was terrified that White had impregnated her. She said that she had watched a show in which an 11-year old girl became pregnant and died.
“Because (the victim) did not understand what had to happen to become pregnant and remained terrified that she was would die, (redacted) brought her to the hospital to get a pregnancy test,” the report states.
Two Charged After Stolen Vehicle Recovered At Molino Store
May 3, 2022
Two people were charged after deputies recovered a stolen vehicle at the Tom Thumb in Molino.
Melissa Renee Andrews, 31, was charged with dealing in stolen property, and Justin Michael Odom, age 27 of Cantonment, was charged with resisting an officer without violence.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Tom Thumb Sunday to recover a gray Chevrolet Equinox that had been reported stolen from Atmore.
Deputies found Andrews and Odom inside the vehicle. When a deputy approached, he was met by Justin Michael Odom who stated his name was “Charlie Odom”. While the deputy investigated his real identity, Odom took off running through the Highway 29 and Highway 97 intersection.
The deputy gave chase and tackled Odom.
The ECSO said a brief struggle followed before Odom was handcuffed. He suffered minor road rash from the tussle.
Odom was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond due to a probation violation. Andrews remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $5,000.