Cantonment Man Gets Prison Time For Narcotics Charges, Running From Deputy
November 29, 2021
A Cantonment man has been sentenced to two years in state prison on multiple narcotics charges after running from a deputy during a December 2020 incident.
Roderick Vernell Lewis, 35, pleaded no contest to two counts of possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest without violence, possession of drug paraphernalia and tampering with evidence.
On June 7, 2019, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to Ruberia Avenue where a woman said she found her vehicle and the man that failed to return it.
A deputy observed Lewis standing with a large chain. He followed orders to put down the chain, and then ran from the deputy, according to an arrest report. The deputy chased Lewis through several backyards before finding him lying face down under a bush. Lewis refused commands to show his hands, forcing the deputy to draw his service weapon. After multiple commands, Lewis complied.
According to the ECSO, Lewis was observed removing a plastic bag from his pocket and begin digging in the dirt.
After Lewis was taken into custody, deputies recovered the plastic bag containing multiple types of narcotics that had been buried in the dirt. The narcotics in the bag tested positive for methamphetamine, ecstasy and heroin.
Deputies determined no charges were warranted in connection with the original complaint involving a car that was not returned.
Bonus Photos: NWE Football Championships, Cheerleader Competitions
November 29, 2021
Northwest Escambia recently won three football championships, and the NWE cheerleaders placed in the Escambia River Conference.
NWE Freshmen 18, Neal 6
NWE Sophomores 26, Flomaton 0
Andalusia 7, NWE Juniors 0
NWE Seniors 8, Brewton 6
For a football action photo gallery, click here.
The NWE sophomore, juniors and senior cheerleaders all captured second place.
For a cheerleader competition photo gallery, click here.
Photos by Shawn Gomez for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Drivers Should See Relief At The Pump, AAA Says
November 29, 2021
Florida drivers could soon find deep discounts at the gas pump, after crude oil prices were slashed on “Black Friday”, according to AAA. The crude price cuts were sparked by concerns about the emergence of a new strain of COVID-19 and the implications it could have on future fuel demand.
Florida drivers could soon find deep discounts at the gas pump, after crude oil prices were slashed on “Black Friday”. The crude price cuts were sparked by concerns about the emergence of a new strain of COVID-19 and the implications it could have on future fuel demand.
Over the weekend, Florida gas prices averaged $3.34 per gallon. In Escambia County, the average price per gallon was $3.25.
A low of $3.09 could be found Sunday night in North Escambia at a gas station on Highway 29 in Cantonment. One Pensacola Boulevard station in Pensacola was at $2.98, while $3.01 could be found at several locations.
“Unless oil prices rebound this week, Florida drivers should begin to see significant relief from the pain at the pump,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The recent drop in futures prices could result in a discount of around 25 cents per gallon or more. But it’d be unusual for that discount to hit the pumps overnight. Gas prices normally rise like a rocket and fall like a feather. So it could take weeks before gas prices fully adjust.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Two Kids Injured, Five Others Uninjured In Highway 97 Wreck Sunday Morning
November 28, 2021
Two minors were transported to the hospital after a wreck involving two vehicles with a total of seven people on Highway 97 in Davisville Sunday morning.
A Saturn Ion and a BMW sideswiped about 10:40 a.m. on Highway 97 just south of Nokomis Road.
The injuries to the two children did not appear to be serious, and five other people refused transport to the hospital.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded. The ECSO was patrolling in the area and nearby at the time of the crash.
Highway 97 was closed for a short time for cleanup.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Former Escambia School Employee Gets 6.5 Years In Prison For Sexual Relationship With Tate High Student
November 28, 2021
A former Escambia County School District employee has been sentenced to state prison for a sexual relationship with a Tate High School student.
Susan Elizabeth Weddle of Cantonment was convicted of felony sexual battery on a victim 16 or 17 years old and lewd and lascivious behavior with a victim 12-16 year old. She was sentenced by Judge Joel Boles to 78 months (6.5 years) on each count, to be served concurrently, followed by five years probation.
Weddle, now 42, was also designated a sexual offender. She was ordered to pay court costs and enter a sexual offender treatment program. Once released, she is prohibited from working or volunteering where children regularly play or congregate, including schools, parks, playgrounds and daycares. She is prohibited from having contact with any children under age 18 without assessment and is not allowed to have unsupervised contact with her children.
On November 22, 2019, a male Tate High School student alleged he was having sex with “forty year old” Susan Weddle, according to an arrest report. The student told a school counselor about the relationship, and said his mother was aware of the allegation and had taken his cell phone away from him because she discovered text messages between him and Weddle.
A witness reported seeing the victim and Weddle kissing at her house, the report states.
When interviewed by authorities, the student confessed to having sex with Weddle “several hundred times” over about a year and half beginning when he was 15-years old at locations that included her house, his house, the beach and her vehicle. The student stated he believed he was in love with Weddle, and the pair routinely shared nude photographs by phone. He stated those phones were destroyed or factory reset. He said the relationship started in October 2018 when he was at her house because he was friends with her son. The Tate student said he became intoxicated and persuaded her to have sex with him, according to an arrest report.
A witness said he saw Weddle and the student kissing in the kitchen during a party at her house, and he said the student admitted to having sex with Weddle after the party. He also told investigators that he saw a video he believed showed the student having sex with Weddle, but no faces could be seen in the video.
The student told investigators that during their relationship, Weddle provided him with an iPhone, necklace and bracelet, but they were gifts, not payment for anything.
Three People Killed In Highway 97 Crash Saturday Afternoon
November 28, 2021
Three people lost their lives in a tragic two vehicle Highway 97 crash Saturday afternoon.
The head-on type collision between a Toyota Corolla and a SUV occurred just before 3 p.m. on Highway 97 about a mile north of Dogwood Park. The engine compartment of SUV caught fire after the crash.
Two people were pronounced deceased at the scene Two others were airlifted to a Pensacola hospital, with one of them passing away later.
The driver of the Toyota Corolla, a 40-year old male from Waverly Hall, Georgia, was one of those pronounced deceased at the scene. The Florida Highway Patrol said he was northbound on Highway 97 and collided with a southbound SUV.
The 39-year old female driver of the SUV and a 18-year old male were killed. A 37-year old male passenger was listed in serious condition. All three were from Memphis, Tennessee.
Highway 97 remained closed into the evening for the Florida Highway Patrol’s crash investigation. FHP no longer releases the names of traffic crash victims.
The Molino, Walnut Hill and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
Pictured above and bottom: A tragic triple fatality crash on Highway 97 Saturday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge. Pictured first below: NorthEscambia.com reader submitted photo shows the scene moments after the crash.
Two Injured In Molino Intersection Two Car Wreck
November 28, 2021
Two people were injured in a two vehicle crash at a Molino intersection Saturday night.
The passenger cars collided at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 shortly before 6 p.m. Two people were transported to the hospital by Escambia County EMS with injuries that were not considered life threatening.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Deadline Is Tuesday For Discount On Real Estate, Tangible Property Taxes
November 28, 2021
A 4% discount on payment of real estate and tangible personal property taxes ends Tuesday, November 30, according to Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford.
To receive the 4% discount, payments must be:
- mailed with a November postmark;
- left by midnight, November 30, in a 24-hour drop box available at all locations; or
- made online by midnight, November 30, at EscambiaTaxCollector.com.
Taxpayers are encouraged to visit our virtual office at EscambiaTaxCollector.com to pay online 24 hours a day. Online services allow customers to pay their taxes, search records, print receipts, renew vehicle and vessel registrations and many other services. There is no additional fee to pay current taxes by eCheck. Customers who decide to visit tax collector offices can drop off their payment in the drive thru or in a dropbox.
To check the status of your taxes, pay online or print a receipt, visit the payment center at EscambiaTaxCollector.com. Taxpayers are encouraged to contact the tax collector’s office by email ectc@EscambiaTaxCollector.com or by phone with any questions.
Pictured: The Escambia County Tax Collector Office in Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Local Cheerleaders March In Disney Thanksgiving Parade
November 28, 2021
Six North Escambia area cheerleaders marched in the UCA All American Parade this Thanksgiving at Disney World in Orlando.
Participants were Northview High School junior varsity cheerleaders Kaitlin Lloyd and Lacey Sapp (pictured first below), Ernest Ward Middle School 8th grade cheerleaders Mary Oliver and Sophia Adkins (pictured second below), and Jay cheerleaders Lily Land and Chloeigh Pierce (pictured third below).
They were part of “Team Minnie” (pictured bottom).
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Here Are The Slow Down Spots For This Week Due To Road Construction
November 28, 2021
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties this week as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and lane shifts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Monday, Nov. 29 through Saturday, Dec. 4 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to pour concrete decks for the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure.
- North Ninth Avenue (State Road (S.R.) 289) Carpenters Creek Bridge Replacement- All travel lanes are temporarily shifted to the northbound side of the bridge as crews replace the southbound portion of the structure. Additionally, drivers may encounter intermittent temporary lane closures from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 29 through Friday, Dec. 3 as crews mobilize materials and equipment.
- West Cervantes Street (U.S. 90) Pedestrian Safety Improvement – Drivers will encounter lane closures between the following locations as crews perform median improvements and install poles for pedestrian traffic signals.
- A and N Streets (inside lane closures).
- R Streets (intermittent outside lane closures).
- Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) Widening from Beulah Road to Pine Forest Road (S.R. 297) – Drivers will encounter temporary intermittent traffic shifts and alternating lane closures to allow crews to place the final thermoplastic striping. Access to all businesses will be maintained, flagmen and signage will be in place to direct traffic.
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) –Drivers can expect the following construction related traffic impacts the week of Monday, Nov. 29.
- · Nighttime intermittent lane closures and shifts, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., on U.S. 29, between I-10 and Nine and Half Mile Road, and on Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 interchange.
- · The U.S. 29 southbound on-ramp and U.S. 29 northbound off-ramp at the Nine Mile Road interchange may be reduced to a single lane during the nighttime hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. Signage will be in place and traffic flaggers will be on-site to direct motorists.
- Sorrento Road (S.R. 292) Intersection Improvements at Innerarity Point (County Road 292A) – Motorists can expect intermittent daytime lane closures as crews place a watermain.
- Creighton Road (S.R. 742) Utility Operations at Keating Road- Traffic will be restricted from 8 a.m.to 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 29 as utility crews perform operations.
- S.R. 173 (Blue Angel Parkway) Turn Lane Construction at Preserve at Perdido and Tractor Supply- There will be southbound intermittent lane restrictions from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30 through Friday, Dec. 3.
- Davis Highway (S.R. 291) Routine Maintenance just north of Langley Avenue- The northbound right lane will be closed from 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2 to 5 a.m. Friday, Dec. 3 as crews make roadway repairs.
Santa Rosa County
- Pensacola Bay Bridge (U.S. 98) Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and lane shifts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Monday, Nov. 29 through Saturday, Dec. 4 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to pour concrete decks for the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure.
- I-10 Resurfacing East of S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard) to East of S.R. 87 – Motorists can expect intermittent lane closures from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 29 through Thursday, Dec. 2 as crews perform construction activities.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Major roadway construction activities are currently underway. Improvements on the 4.25-mile section include widening the roadway from four to a six-lanes with a raised median; safety and drainage upgrades; resurfacing State Road 281 (Avalon Boulevard) from U.S. 98 to Garcon Point Bridge; extending the existing shared-use path on the south side of U.S. 98 from Gondolier Boulevard; and new signage and pavement markings.
- S.R. 89 (Dogwood Drive) Turn Lane Construction in Milton- There will be intermittent lane restrictions from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. from Tuesday, Nov. 30 to Thursday, Dec. 2.
All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
File photo.