One Injured In Highway 97 Rollover Crash In Walnut Hill
April 28, 2022
One person was critically injured in a single vehicle rollover crash Thursday afternoon in Walnut Hill.
The driver of a passenger car lost control, left the roadway, went airborne, and overturned into a field on Highway 97 just north of Wiggins Lake Road.
The driver was extricated from the vehicle by firefighters in about four minutes and airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital. There were no passengers in the vehicle.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash, which occured about 2:10 p.m.
Pictured: EMS personnel arrive on scene at a crash on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill Thursday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Mostly Nude Airbnb Renter Assaulted Disabled Man Over Age 65, ECSO Says
April 28, 2022
An Airbnb renter is facing charges after allegedly running around mostly nude and assaulting a disabled man over 65 years of age.
Stephanie Joanne Lewis, 47, was charged with felony lewd or lascivious exhibition in the presence of an elderly and disabled person, assault on a person 65 years of age or older, and resisting an officer without violence.
Lewis overstayed her Airbnb rental in the upstairs area of the victim’s home, according to an arrest report which states she is a narcotics user with a history of violent, erratic behavior and keeps “a collection of butcher knives” in her room.
Deputies arrived at the residence to find Lewis outside wearing “sensual/erotic clothing of the lingerie type” that left her almost naked, the report states.
The victim stated he has tried to get Lewis removed from the residence, but he struggles to get to the courthouse due to a disability from a stroke and has hired an attorney. The victim told deputies that Lewis frequently walks around naked in the common area of the home shared with other tenants. He stated that she had been throwing household items and causing a disturbance, the report states.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Lewis threw a can of soda at the victim. He told officers that he is constantly in fear of Lewis’ behavior due to drug use, and he is unable to defend himself due to his stroke.
Lewis pulled away from deputies and refused to comply with orders during her arrest, the report continues.
She remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning with bond set at $3,000.
Northview Names Students Of The Month
April 28, 2022
Northview High School has named their Students of the Month for March. They are senior Torian Richardson and junior Charles Wood. They are pictured with principal Michael Sherrill. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Beat Escambia 13-1; Head Into Districts As No. 2 Seed
April 28, 2022
The Tate Aggies wrapped up their regular season with a 13-1 win over Escambia 13-1 Wednesday night.
The Aggies put two on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning when Bray Touchstone doubled on a 2-2 count, and powered ahead with a seven-run fourth inning.
Rilee Lowery earned the win for Tate in five innings, giving up one run and four hits while striking out two and walking one.
Frankie Randall led the Aggies at the plate, going 3-3. Touchstone and Madox Land were both 2-3. Jay Davis, Cade Kelly and Jackson Penton each added a run.
Tate’s regular season ended at 21-2
No. 2 Tate moves into the 1-6A quarterfinals at 6 p.m. Monday as they host No. 7 Washington (8-14).
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Laura Krause Glodfelter, click to enlarge.
Two Escambia Sheriff’s Office K-9s Retire
April 28, 2022
Two Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9s are retiring.
A celebration was held Wednesday for K-9 Thor and K-9 Bady. They enjoyed pup-safe cakes and received a jar of treats from Sheriff Chip Simmons.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Blanked In Biloxi
April 28, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos got another solid start from Cody Mincey, but couldn’t get the bats going in a 2-0 to the Biloxi Shuckers on Wednesday night.
A two-run homer from Joey Wiemer in the first inning gave Biloxi an early lead, and Shuckers starter Tyler Herb (W, 2-1) struck out eight over 6.0 scoreless innings as he kept the Blue Wahoos at bay.
Mincey (L, 0-1) recovered to complete 5.0 innings on only 70 pitches, but the early home run was too much to overcome.
Pensacola got a pair of singles from Luis Aviles, Jr., a single from Troy Johnston and a double from Griffin Conine in their second shutout loss of the season. A trio of lefty relievers – Josh Simpson, Andrew Nardi and Jefry Yan – struck out five Biloxi batters over 3.0 scoreless innings for the Blue Wahoos. Robbie Hitt (S, 1) worked a tidy ninth to earn the save.
The game was played in just over two hours, the fastest game for the Blue Wahoos this season.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biloxi Shuckers on Thursday night.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
ECUA Conducting Controlled Burn At CWRF Near Gonzalez
April 28, 2022
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority is conducting a controlled burn Thursday and Friday in the area of the Central Water Reclamation Facility (CWRF) in Gonzalez.
The burn will be dependent upon daily weather conditions and an approved permit from the Florida Forest Service.
Conditions will be evaluated each morning and ECUA’s burn-certified contractor will conduct the burn operations, which are scheduled to begin at approximately 9 a.m. each day. These burn activities are a part of ECUA’s management plan for the ecological restoration of forest lands at the CWRF site.
The ECUA’s CWRF property is in the Gonzalez community and mostly lies south of Becks Lake Road, west of the Escambia River. A small amount of ECUA’s property north of Becks Lake Road will be included in this prescribed burn operation.
Although efforts will be made to ensure smoke will not affect roadways, drivers should exercise caution in the event smoke does lead to reduced visibility on the area’s roads.
New Beulah Fire Station Groundbreaking Set; May Be Named ‘The Bradshaw-McNair Fire Station’
April 27, 2022
Escambia County is set to break ground on the new Beulah Fire Station on May 6, and it 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 wrote on his blog.
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.
The groundbreaking is scheduled for Friday, May 6 at 11:30 a.m. and will be open to the public. The new station will be built directly behind the current fire station on Nine Mile Road.
Pictured top: Chief Dwain S. Bradshaw (left) and Chief Steve McNair (right). NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Man Wins $1 Million In Lottery Scratch-Off Purchased At Nine Mile Publix
April 27, 2022
An Alabama man won a $1 million Florida Lottery scratch-off prize after a stop at a Nine Mile Road Publix.
Earnest Dillard, age 47 of Mobile, claimed the $1 million prize in the 500x Cash Scratch-Off game at lottery headquarters in Tallahassee. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $820,000.
Dillard purchased his winning ticket from the Publix on Nine Mile Road at Pine Forest Road. The store will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the $50 winning ticket.
Alabama Reopens Driver’s License Offices After Week Closure
April 27, 2022
Alabama has reopened driver’s license offices across the state after migrating from a decades old system into the new Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Driver License System, simply known as LEADS.
Alabama citizens now have access to a variety of new options and such enhanced services as allowing individuals to pre-apply for the Alabama Driver License and enter all necessary information prior to visiting a local office.
Additionally, the system now offers expanded online services including but not limited to:
- Ability to update their addresses
- Ability to pay and reinstate their licenses
- Ability to upload U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Medical Cards
- Ability to view Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Hazmat background checks
- Ability to issue duplicate licenses to eligible foreign nationals
- Ability to pre-apply for individuals who are requesting an Alabama License for the first time
In addition to the new hardware, tremendous amounts of data received since 1970 has been converted into LEADS.