Firefighter Injured In Nine Mile Road Apartment Fire
February 7, 2023
A firefighter was injured during an East Nine Mile Road apartment fire and transported to an area hospital.
The fire was reported about 4:45 p.m. at the Jasmine Creek Apartments across from Target.
Escambia County did release information detailing the nature of the firefighter’s injuries or current condition.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Photo by WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Investigation Continues After Human Remains Found In Bratt
February 6, 2023
An investigation is continuing after human remains were found near Bratt.
Highly decomposed remains were first discovered by a hunter on Christmas Eve, according to Escambia County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Morgan Lewis.
Monday, ECSO and Medical Examiner’s Office investigators returned to the scene on C.W. Caraway Road with cadaver dogs to search for additional remains. NorthEscambia.com was there as crime scene technicians, investigators, and volunteers with the cadaver dogs returned from a heavily wooded area, some carrying evidence bags.
“We found more of the evidence we were looking for today,” Dan Schebler, director of operations for the District One Medical Examiner’s Office, told NorthEscambia.com. The additional remains located Monday were believed to be from the same individual as the December discovery.
For more photos, click or tap here.
C.W. Caraway Road is a private dirt lane that travels north off West Highway 4, about 1.5 miles east of Northview High School.
Lewis said the remains are part of an ongoing death investigation, and the remains may be those of an individual in an open missing person case. The Medical Examiner’s Office will make the final identification and determination if any foul play was involved.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Warrant Details Allegations Against Art Teacher Charged With Having Sex With A Student
February 6, 2023
An arrest warrant details the allegations against a Beulah Middle School art teacher arrested on child sex charges involving a student.
Winston Hezekiah Foster, 61, was charged with sexual assault, lewd or lascivious behavior on a victim age 12 to 16, and a sexual offense against a student by an authority figure. He was released on a $60,000 bond shortly after his arrest on Thursday.
In December, the State Attorney’s Office received a complaint from the victim who alleged Foster, her former middle school art teacher, had a sexual relationship with her from October of 2017 when she was 15-years old until September 2019 when she was 17-years old. She said Foster was her art teacher for sixth, seventh and eighth grade while she attended Woodham Middle School.
She told investigators that it was not uncommon for art students to come visit Foster before school. She said Foster “started to be more forward with her and make comments that she thought were ‘weird’ for him to say,” according to an arrest warrant, before inviting her to do things outside of school. She said he invited her for sushi, and they went back to his house to eat. She said he kissed her, but that was it. In 2017, he allegedly took her to see a movie in about October 2017 before taking her to his house and having sex, the warrant obtained by NorthEscambia.com states.
“During the summer months, when Foster was off and his wife was at work, he would pick her up from her home and take her back to his house,” according to the warrant. The victim also alleged they had sex in a supply closet in his classroom at Woodham Middle School in 2017 and then at Beulah Middle School in 2018 and 2019. She also stated they had “virtual sex” through an app while Foster was in Houston visiting his very ill daughter.
According to district documents, Foster was an art teacher at Beulah Middle School and previously at Woodham Middle School.
According to Escambia County Public Schools, Foster was no longer an employee as of last Thursday.
Foster’s mugshot was not made available by the Escambia County Jail, which cited a Florida statute (F.S.S 119.071) that typically protects law enforcement and first responder mugshots and those of their families from public release. The jail did not cite the specific exemption claimed by Foster. Foster is pictured above from his arrest warrant (left) and after winning an art educator award while he was at Beulah Middle School.
19-Year Old Killed When His Vehicle Was Hit By Train In Atmore
February 6, 2023
One person was killed when a train collided with a vehicle at a crossing in Atmore Sunday night.
Koby Wooten, age 19 of Perdido, Alabama, was pronounced deceased on the scene.
The incident happened about 6:30 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Avenue crossing. According to Atmore Police, Wooten’s SUV was found with severe damage about 120 feet from the point of impact.
The investigation is continuing.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Highway 29 In Century To Be Down To Two Lanes For Three Months
February 6, 2023
A portion of Highway 29 through Century is down to just two lanes and will be for nearly three more months.
The two northbound travel lanes and the center turn lane are closed between Harries Boulevard and East Cottage Street. One northbound and one southbound lane will remain open using the current southbound travel lanes. The closures and traffic shift will be in place through April, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. Traffic may be further reduced to just one lane during the project, most likely at night.
The closure is part of a major reconstruction and realignment of Highway 29 from just south of East Highway 4 to the Alabama state line.
The project will also upgrade traffic signals, drainage structures, pavement markings, and driveways, while also improving curb ramps and sidewalks to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
FDOT said access to adjacent businesses and other properties will be maintained at all times.
It is estimated that the entire project will be completed in late 2024.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Soccer Advances To Regional Quarterfinals
February 6, 2023
The District 1-6A runner-up Tate Aggies are headed to regionals.
No. 8 Tate (10-3-3) will travel to No. 1 Chiles (15-2) on Wednesday, February 8 at 7 p.m. (EST) in the regional quarterfinals.
No. 3 Gulf Breeze, which defeated Tate 1-0 in double overtime for the district title, will host No. 6 Fleming Island on February 8.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Contractor Surveying Ahead Of North Escambia Fiber Internet Buildout
February 6, 2023
A contractor is currently surveying across the area ahead of a North Escambia fiber internet buildout.
Last month, the Escambia County Commission selected member-owned Escambia River Electric Cooperative (EREC) with their partner firm Conexon Connect to provide high speed broadband in the area.
EREC contractor ICON Utility Services is currently surveying the utility pole network across the EREC footprint for future fiber optic network installation.
The Connect, powered by Escambia River Electric Cooperative, network will span approximately 600 miles of fiber network in Escambia County reaching over 4,000 electric member locations.
Three basic speed tiers will be available:
- 100 Mbps/100 Mbps — $49.95/month
- 1 Gig/1Gig — $79.95/month
- 2 Gig/2Gig — $99.95/month
Qualifying households can receive a $30 per month discount through the Affordable Connectivity Program.
Pictured: A contractor surveys a utility pole at the Travis Nelson Park in Bratt on Saturday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Friends Of The Library Winter Book Sale Earns $18K For Programs
February 6, 2023
The Friends of the West Florida Public Library’s Big Winter Book Sale was the best sale ever at the downtown branch. The Friends mad $18,149.25 to support library funding of programs at branches in Molino, Century and Pensacola.
The Friends of the Library Spring Sale will be held April 28-30.
File photo.
Bratt Elementary School Celebrates Students Of The Month
February 6, 2023
Bratt Elementary School celebrated their January Students of the Month recently with a special pizza party and a story time. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Decline Over The Last Week
February 6, 2023
Florida gas prices declined 7 cents per gallon last week.
On Sunday, the state average was $3.50 per gallon. That’s 8 cents below the 2023 high and only 3 cents more than this time last year.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $3.31. The lowest North Escambia price Sunday night was $3.16 at a Highway 29 station in Cantonment, while Pensacola prices dipped as low as $3.06 at a warehouse club.
“Pump prices are moving lower again after a sharp drop in the oil and gasoline futures markets,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Oil prices are 10% lower than two weeks ago. Meanwhile, wholesale gasoline prices have fallen almost 40 cents. Unless the market suddenly rebounds, drivers could see gas prices drop another 5-15 cents this week.”
The drop is due to a combination of domestic and global factors. On Friday, the European Union agreed to impose a $100/barrel price cap on Russian oil. Additionally, there’s speculation that the strong January jobs report could cause the Federal Reserve to pass additional interest rate hikes, which could potentially lower fuel demand.
NorthEscambia.com photo.