Bond Revoked For Child Abuse, Battery Suspect After Another Arrest
January 18, 2022
Bond has been revoked for a Century man charged with child abuse and the battery of his wife.
Joshua Shane Thompson, 30, was charged with battery in a domestic violence situation and child abuse. He was released from jail on November 12 after posting a $7,000 bond.
Thompson allegedly grabbed his wife around the throat and attempted to choke her during an argument, according to an arrest report. He then pulled her to the ground by the her hair while she was holding a young child and threatened to shoot her, the report continues. The victim stated she never saw a gun.
He was arrested on a new battery charge in late November. One of his wife’s relatives told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that he shoved and punched her during the original incident. He was released on an additional $2,000 bond.
The State Attorney’s Office filed a motion to revoke Thompson’s bond, which was granted by Judge Charles P. Young last Friday.
Ernest Ward Middle School Names Science Fair Winners
January 18, 2022
Winners have been announced in the recent Ernest Ward Middle School Science Fair.
The students are:
Sixth Grade
- 1st place – Jackson Sellers, “H20 in Wood”
- 2nd place – Christian Roberts, “Flower vs. Flower”
- 3rd place – Gavin Switzer, “A Burning Question”
Seventh Grade
- 1st place – Michael Brazwell, “Hover Board”
- 2nd place – Jace Portwood, “Mother Nature Purifier”
- 3rd place – Addison Parsons, “Which Cleaner Works Best?”
For additional photos, click here.
Each winner is eligible to participate in the West Panhandle Regional Science & Engineering Fair on January 31.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
This Is Who Won Over $49,000 For Fantasy 5 Ticket Sold At The Grey Goose In Davisville
January 18, 2022
We now know who won over $49,000 after purchasing a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket at a North Escambia liquor store.
The quick pick ticket sold at Grey Goose Liquors on the state line at 11330 Highway 97 in Davisville was four winning tickets sold for the December 17 drawing and was worth $49,350.14.
The winning ticket was sold to Kenneth Lee Freeman of Brewton, according to the Florida Lottery. The other winning tickets were sold in Orlando, Punta Gorda and Miami.
The 227 tickets matching four numbers won $140 each. Another 7,748 tickets matching three numbers are worth $11.50 each, and 81,608 ticket holders won a free ticket for picking two numbers.
The winning numbers for the December 17 drawing were 02-18-21-33-36.
Grace Fellowship Offering Upward Sports Flag Football And Cheerleading Program
January 18, 2022
Grace Fellowship in Atmore will be hosting an Upward Sports flag football and cheerleading league, and an early bird registration rate is available through this week.
This spring, they will offer flag football and cheerleading for grades K-6. Practices will be held on Thursday afternoons and evenings from March 24-May 12, and games will be played on Saturday mornings April 9-May 14.
“This is not in competition with anyone else but simply an alternative to allow kids to have something to do that isn’t revolving around a screen,” said Youth Pastor Jonathan McMath from Grace Fellowship. “Our hope is that through this program kids can break down barriers and build up relationships with one another while also learning basic skills in sports.”
The early bird registration cost is $89 until January 22, then increasing to $99. The deadline to register is February 5. The cost includes uniforms and other necessities.
To register, click or tap here. For more information, call (251) 368-4463.
Man Revived With Narcan, Charged With DUI And Child Neglect After Highway 29 Crash
January 17, 2022
A Pensacola man was charged with several felony offenses after a trooper used Narcan to revive him after a traffic crash on Highway 29 atKingsfield Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol charged 39-year old William Hawthorne with driving under the influence with property damage, child neglect, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
A trooper arrived at a wreck about 11 a.m. Saturday to find Hawthorne to be unconscious behind the wheel, turning blue in the back and with agonal breath, FHP said. The trooper administered Narcan, with Hawthorne responding quickly, regaining consciousness.
A 6-year old girl was in the vehicle with Hawthorne at the time of the crash, according to a crash report.
FHP said a white Ford pickup was stopped southbound on Highway 29 at Kingsfield, waiting for a green light. Hawthorne was traveling south on Highway 29 and collided with the trailer hitch on the pickup, troopers said.
The driver of the pickup, a 77-year old Pensacola man, was not injuried.
Escambia Commission Considers Search Firm To Find Next Permanent County Administrator
January 17, 2022
The Escambia County Commission in is expected to move forward this week with hiring a search firm to find the county’s next administrator.
After the commission terminated Janice Gilley from the position in June 2021, deputy administrator Wes Moreno was named interim and had remained in the position. Commissioners decided in July 2021 not to hurry in finding a permanent replacement.
The county has now advertised for a search firm to assist with the recruitment of a permanent county administrator, and five proposals were received. One of those proposals was tossed because it was addressed to a county other than Escambia.
A committee reviewed the remaining four proposals and recommended Gov HR USA to be the most responsive.
On Tuesday, the commission will vote on their $22,500 proposal, along with an extra $10,000 for the search firm, consultant travel, additional advertisements and other related costs.
The Illinois company, according to their proposal, has conducted over 250 top manager level recruitments such as county administrators and city managers. The firm offered a timeline recommendation that has a new Escambia County administrator named within 14 weeks.
If Escambia County hires the GovHR recommended candidate and that person leaves within the first 12 months, Gov HR will conduct another recruitment at cost.
EREC Crews Help Restore Power After Carolinas Winter Storm
January 17, 2022
Crews from Escambia River Electric Cooperative headed to the snowy Carolinas over the weekend to help restore power following a winter storm.
With up to about 5-inches of snow of the ground Sunday, they worked to restore power to Broad River Electric Cooperative members. On Monday, they were set to assist members of Newberry Electric Cooperative in Newberry, South Carolina.
Photos courtesy EREC for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Murderer Accused Of Assaulting Multiple Century Correctional Officers
January 17, 2022
An inmate at Century Correctional Institution has been accused of assaulting corrections officers during two different incident.
According to the Florida Department of Corrections, inmate Kunta Porter assaulted officers by striking them in the face. About a month later, FDC says Porter assaulted an officer by throwing a book which struck them in the face, and he also spat on them.
In both incidents, the FDC said staff responded appropriately, and the inmate was subdued.
Porter, 44, is serving six life sentences for murder, robbery and kidnapping in a Pinellas County case.
This Was Our Favorite Florida Sunday Snow Picture
January 17, 2022
Lots of readers shared snow pictures with NorthEscambia.com on Sunday, but this was our favorite.
In the photo, the chilly early skies are blue after a passing snow shower left a white dusting in the pines and the ground at a barn west of Walnut Hill. Much of northern half of Escambia County had snow Sunday morning, but this was one of the few areas where there was any accumulation on the ground.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Developer Seeks Zoning Change For 376 Acres In Molino For Residential ‘Estates’
January 16, 2022
A developer is proposing a large scale zoning change for 376 acres in Molino for the potential development of residential “estates”.
The acreage, all currently wooded and undeveloped, is on five parcels along or near either Gibson Road or Crabtree Church Road in Molino. The parcels are owned by Thomas Henry of Thomas Homes in Cantonment.
“The current growth in the area suggests that an additional area of low-density residential development would be in the general direction of development of the surroundings,” the application states. “The infrastructure is in place to support such a pattern of development. The approval of the proposed future land use will expand the residential area and will provide necessary dwellings to accommodate the future projected population.”
The current agricultural zoning on the property is agriculture, which allows for a maximum residential density of one dwelling unit on each 20 acres. Henry is proposing a future land use change to agricultural residential, which would allow a maximum of one residence per four acres.
The application states that site design is ongoing, but Henry envisions a “sprawling rural residential development comprised of large multi-acre single-family detached estates”. Application documents state there is sufficient infrastructure in place, including road capacity and utilities, to support the residences.
Some of the property is wetlands, which may limit development. Documents state that a majority of the property is not “prime soil” for agriculture, as defined by the USDA.
Before any future development, site plan reviews will be required for all proposals to ensure compatibility with the surrounding area.
The Escambia County Planning Board will hold a hearing on the zoning and future land use changes on Tuesday, February 1 at the Escambia County Central Office Complex at 3363 West Park Street.
Pictured top: Zoning changes are being proposed for the parcels in red. Pictured below: Public notice signs. NorthEscambia.com graphic/photo. Click to enlarge.
