Escambia Motorcyclist, 51, Killed In Gulf Beach Highway Crash
March 16, 2022
A 51-year old Escambia County man was killed in a motorcycle crash Wednesday afternoon on Gulf Beach Highway.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the motorcyclist was headed north on Gulf Beach Highway when he traveled off the roadway onto the right shoulder about 3:30 p.m.
Troopers said he was ejected from the motorcycle and pronounced deceased on scene. The rider was wearing a helmet, according to FHP.
There were no other vehicles involved.
File photo.
Escambia School Board Considers Rule To Make It Illegal To Have A Gun In A Vehicle On A Campus
March 16, 2022
The Escambia County School Board is considering an emergency rule that will make it illegal to have a weapon in a vehicle on a school campus.
Right now, Florida law says it’s technically legal for anyone 18 or older to have a lawfully concealed firearm in their vehicle.
The school district currently has rules against a weapon in a vehicle on a campus, but a violation only leads to school disciplinary action. Without a waiver in place, as mentioned in the statute above, law enforcement does not have the ability to make an arrest for breaking the law.
Next week, the Escambia County School Board will consider an emergency rule to waive the exception, making it illegal for anyone to have a firearm or other weapon in their vehicle. If approved at their Tuesday meeting, the emergency rule will be in place for up to 90 days while the district works on a permanent rule following a formal rulemaking and advertising process. (The complete rule, as proposed, is below.)
The school board is taking action after a rifle was found inside a vehicle on the Tate High School campus last month.
An AR-15 rifle along with four magazines and 34 rounds of ammunition were found February 15 inside an 18-year old student’s truck while it was parked on campus, and the student was suspended. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said it was determined in consultation with the State Attorney’s Office that no law was broken because the school district had not ever approved a waiver like the emergency rule currently under consideration.
The student and a 16-year old were later charged with felony grand theft of a firearm after the weapon was reported as stolen.
Proposed Emergency Rule:
NorthEscambia.com photos.
West Florida High Cheerleader Jazmine Olsen Signs With West Kentucky
March 16, 2022
West Florida High School cheerleader and cheer captain Jazmine Olsen signed Tuesday with Western Kentucky University, a team that won a national championship last year. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Late ‘Matriarch’ Of Century, Ruth Paige, Honored; The Nurse Midwife Delivered Over 2,000 Babies
March 16, 2022
The Century Town Council Tuesday night honored the “matriarch” of the town with a proclamation.
Ruth Paige passed away this month at age 100.
According to the proclamation, “Mama Ruth” was the nurse midwife for Century and surrounding areas for over 70 years and is credited with delivering over 2,000 babies “of all ethnicities”.
“She is gone from this world yet will forever be etched in the hearts of Centurions,” the proclamation from Mayor Ben Boutwell stated.
Vehicle Rolls Over In Bratt
March 16, 2022
There were no injuries in a rollover crash Tuesday night in Bratt.
The driver of an eastbound Chevrolet Trailblazer lost control about 10:30 p.m. and collided with a wire fence on Highway 4 near C.W. Carraway Road, about a mile east of Northview High School.
The SUV rolled over into the front yard of a residence. The female driver was evaluated on scene by Escambia County EMS and refused transport to the hospital. There were no passengers in the vehicle.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue also responded, and the Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tate High Aggie Classic Rained Out Tuesday; Play Resumes Today
March 16, 2022
All games in the annual Tate High School Aggie Classic were rained out Tuesday.
The regular schedule will resume Wednesday. The Aggies will take on Nobile, Oklahoma at 7 p.m. at Tate High School.
Pictured: The Tate Aggies beat Booker T. Washington High of Tulsa, Oklahoma, 14-1 Monday night on opening day of the annual Aggie Classic. NorthEscambia.com photo by Laura Glodfelter, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Sex Crimes Involving 14-Year Old Girl
March 15, 2022
A Cantonment man is charged with sex crimes involving a 14-year old girl.
Jonathan Rogan Scott, 21, was charged with two counts of lewd or lascivious battery, transmitting material harmful to a minor, and using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony. He was 20 at the time of the alleged incidents.
The 14-year old victim stated that Scott had been living with a friend of hers in a local apartment, and the events took place between March and July of 2021, according to an arrest report.
The victim told deputies that Scott had “made out” with her at the apartment in March 2021, and that Scott “made out” with her again in May 2021 during a trip to Century. She also said, the report states, that the sexual battery took place at the apartment in late July 2021 when she was making out with Scott and he refused to stop.
Scott also allegedly sent nude pictures of himself to the victim and requested nude pictures of her, according to investigators.
Scott remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday afternoon with bond set at $250,000.
Man, 70, Killed; One Other Adult And Five Children Injured In I-10 Crash
March 15, 2022
A 70-year old Mississippi man was killed in a head-on rollover crash on I-10 eastbound in Escambia County Tuesday afternoon near the Florida Welcome center. Six others, including five children, are in serious to critical condition.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the crash occurred just after 12:30. The driver of the white Chevrolet Suburban was traveling westbound on I-10 and veered left crossing the grassy median before colliding head-on with a silver Jeep Grand Cherokee. Both vehicles then collided with a semi truck causing the silver jeep to overturn.
The driver of the Jeep was pronounced deceased at the scene An adult passenger and two children in the Jeep are in serious condition at Sacred Heart Hospital. All were from Mississippi.
The 31-year old driver of the Chevrolet Suburban is in critical condition at Baptist Hospital. Three children that were in the Suburban are in serious condition at Sacred Heart Hospital. Everyone in the vehicle was from Texas.
The driver of the semi-truck was not injured.
There were no injuries when an Escambia County EMS unit was involved in a separate accident (seen upper left of the photo at bottom) while responding to the first crash.
I-10 eastbound was closed for several hours by the crash, with traffic diverted in Alabama to Highway 90 in Florida.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
10,000 Pound Food Giveaway This Afternoon In Cantonment
March 15, 2022
The Cantonment Improvement Committee will hold a drive-thru 10,000 pound food giveaway Tuesday afternoon at Carver Park on Webb Street. Today’s rain will not cancel the event.
The food distribution will begin at 3:30 p.m. and continue while supplies last for anyone in need of food. People should line up their vehicles, single file on Webb Street facing north; food will be loaded into vehicles. Identification is required.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Woman Charged With Battery Of Her 78-Year Old Male Roommate
March 15, 2022
A Walnut Hill woman is accused of hitting her 78-year old roommate with a glass vase.
Victoria Lynn Burkett, 34, was charged with aggravated battery on a person 65 years or older and tampering with or harassing a witness.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, Burkett was a roommate of the 78-year old victim, but they were not in a romantic relationship. He said he allowed Burkett to stay in a room at his residence off Highway 164 in Walnut Hill “because he’s been trying to help her out”, the report states.
The victim told deputies that Burkett became upset because he would not allow her to use his vehicle because she does not have a license. He stated the argument escalated, and Burkett grabbed a flower vase and began to hit him.
The man told deputies that he placed his hands and arms up to protect his face. She allegedly took his phone to prevent him from calling for help.
Deputies noted that the victims’ hands and arms were injured and bloody.
“Burkett is a stocky woman who is on drugs who is on drugs a lot of the time and will beat him up if she disagrees with him or sometimes for no reason,” the victim told deputies.
“When she hits me, it hurts,” the victim said.
Burkett was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $25,000 bond. A judge ordered her to not have any contact with the victim.