FDEP: Gulf Power Releases 307K Gallons Of Reuse Water; Diesel Spill At Cantonment Plant
February 7, 2020
Gulf Power released hundreds of thousands of gallons of water meant for reuse into an area that drains into the Escambia River Thursday as the result of heavy rainfall, and there was a small diesel spill in the parking lot of a Cantonment manufacturing plant, according to reports from the Florida Department of Environmental Management.
Gulf Power Crist Plant
About 307,000 gallons of water stored for reuse was released as a result of a pond overflowing following the heavy rainfall at Gulf Power’s Plant Crist. The event was discovered about 6:20 a.m. Thursday and was stopped by 11 a.m. The water was released to the surrounding area that ultimately drains to Escambia River.
Gulf Power constructed a berm across the pond overflow structure and began pumping water to adjacent permitted ponds.
CEREX Advanced Fabrics
The diesel fuel spill occurred at CEREX Advanced Fabrics on Chemstrand Road Thursday afternoon.
A saddle tank on a vendor’s truck was punctured in a parking lot. Approximately 25 gallons of diesel were released during heavy rain, according to a FDEP report. The hole in the tank was plugged, pads and booms were deployed to capture floating liquids, stormwater drainage gates were shuttered and vacuum trucks were deployed to remove any fuel observed.
Bratt Elementary Names Students Of The Month
February 7, 2020
Bratt Elementary School has named Students of the Month for January. They are:
Pre-K
Trey Knighten
Ridge Odom
Kindergarten
Annalynn Hadley
Breanna Greenwell
Emma Brewer
Ruth Bryan
Caleb Madison
First Grade
Luke Craft
Sanora Martin
Joshua Brewer
Shirley Yang
Second Grade
Shalyn Summerall
Houston Smith
Rylan Johnson
Third Grade
Ava McCann
Noah Luker
Landon Barlow
Dillon Wiggins
Kintley Flowers
Fourth Grade
Hunter Parker
Owen Hobein
Ja’keriyah Jacobs
Brooklynn Reynolds
Fifth Grade
Logan Morris
Avery Stuckey
Lori Hall
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Al-Qaida Leader That Claimed Responsibility For NAS Pensacola Attack Is Now Dead, Trump Says
February 6, 2020
The al-Qaida leader that recently claimed responsibility for the deadly terrorist attack on NAS Pensacola is now dead.
At the direction of President Donald Trump, “the United States conducted a counterterrorism operation in Yemen that successfully eliminated Qassim al-Rimi, a founder and the leader of al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)”, according to a White House statement released Thursday night.
“On behalf of the thousands of patriots in Northwest Florida, I thank President Trump for his swift action in eliminating this brutal terrorist,” Rep. Matt Gaetz said. “During his State of the Union address, the President stated that any assault on our freedom would be met with overwhelming, disproportionate retribution. He has kept his word. We are a safer, stronger nation tonight because of his leadership.”
“Rimi joined al-Qa’ida in the 1990s, working in Afghanistan for Osama bin Laden,” the statement continued. Under Rimi, AQAP committed unconscionable violence against civilians in Yemen and sought to conduct and inspire numerous attacks against the United States and our forces.”
Trump said the United States and its allies are safefter as a result of his death.
“We will continue to protect the American people by tracking down and eliminating terrorists who seek to do us harm,” Trump said.
In an 18-minute video, Al-Rimi said Saudi Air Force officer Mohammed Alshamrani was a “courageous knight” and a “hero” for the NAS Pensacola attack that killed three before Alshamrani was shot and killed by two Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies. Eight other people were wounded.
Cantonment Man Gets 25 Years For Sexual Battery Of Underage Girl
February 6, 2020
A Cantonment man was sentenced to state prison Wednesday for the sexual battery of an underage girl.
Adam Lee Bryant, 38, was sentenced by Escambia County Circuit Court Judge Jan Shackelford to 25 years in state prison followed by lifetime sexual offender probation.
Bryant entered a plea to one count of sexual battery on a victim under 12 while in the position of familial or custodial authority and one count of lewd or lascivious molestation on a victim under 12. Bryant was designated a sexual predator and will be required to register as a sexual predator and comply with all statutory requirements.
The charges stem from a September 2019 investigation conducted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Gulf Coast Kid’s House.
Bryant called an adult female and confessed that he had inappropriate contact with the girl over a three year period and said he was ready to turn himself in and face his punishment, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
Bryant was a truck driver who would be away from home for long periods of time. When not on the road, he would sometimes be home alone with the girl because she is homeschooled, the arrest report states.
What Is A Diverging Diamond Interchange? FDOT Studying Them For I-10 Exits At Pine Forest And Nine Mile.
February 6, 2020
The Florida Department of Transportation is looking to widen I-10 from four to six lanes from near the Alabama state line to west of Highway 29 and reconstruct the interchanges at Nine Mile and Pine Forest roads as diverging diamond interchanges.
But what is a diverging diamond interchange?
A FDOT animation of a diverging diamond intersection at I-10 and Nine Mile Road is below.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, a diverging diamond interchange is a simple design innovation that improves safety and mobility, often at a much lower cost, compared to conventional interchange designs. The key to what makes a DDI work so well is how left turns are handled.
The DDI resembles a conventional diamond interchange, which is the most common form in the United States. Drivers make right turns at a DDI just as they would at a regular diamond interchange.
The crossover intersections are what make DDIs different, and they are very intuitive for the driver. The crossovers gently transition – or diverge – traffic from the right side of the road to the left side of the road and then back again. Because traffic is on the left hand side between the crossovers, all left turns occur without having to cross opposing traffic. The road geometry, signs, and pavement markings all work together to make this very simple. In cities where DDIs have been built, drivers say they don’t even notice the crossover intersections. according to the Federal Highway Administration.
FDOT held a Project Development and Environment Study meeting Tuesday evening on the potential project at Pine Forest United Methodist Church. There is no timetable, or funding, yet for construction.
Click image to enlarge.
A Few More Showers; Low In The 30s Tonight
February 6, 2020
A flash flood watch is also in effect for the entire area. There is a wind advisory in effect south of I-10 in Escambia County with gusts of 35 to 40 mph expected tonight. A gale warning is in effect offshore.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers before 9pm. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 36. Breezy, with a west wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 54. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 67. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 72. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 62.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 73.
Tate High School Chaparrals Take Fourth In Season Opening Performance
February 6, 2020
The Tate High School Chaparrals finished fourth in their first competition of the season at the Gulf Coast Color Guard and Percussion Circuit.
The Chaparrals competed with against six other winter guards in their unit Saturday night, wth 35 winter guard teams and 12 percussion teams taking part.
The Tate High School Chaparrals Winter Guard has been competing since 1972, making them one of the oldest competing high school units around. Tate High School Chaparrals have been finalists in the WGI Pensacola Regional, WGI Southeast Power Regional and won the WGI Scholastic World Class Gold Medal in 1989.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate’s Thompson And Uebelsteadt Sign with Bellhaven; Williams Inks With East Tennessee
February 6, 2020
Tate High School kicked off National Signing Day with three players signing letters of intent.
Conner Thompson and Coner Uebelsteadt both signed with Bellhaven University, a private Christian School in Jackson, Mississippi. Josh Williams inked with East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee.
For a complete list of area signees, click here.
Pictured top: (L-R) Connor Thompson, Josh Williams and Connor Uebelsteadt. Pictured below: The three sign their National Letters of Intent Wednesday morning at Tate High School. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview’s Davis And Findley Sign With Northwestern; Hawkins Inks With Benedictine
February 6, 2020
Three Northview High School Chiefs signed their National Letters of Intent Wednesday afternoon.
Garrick Davis (6′3, 260-lbs) signed with Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. Davis signed as an offensive lineman. Cameron Findley (6′2, 305-lbs) also signed with Northwestern College as an offensive lineman.
Jacob Hawkins (6′2, 220-lbs), signed with Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. Hawkins signed as a defensive end. Hawkins will be joining former Chief Lance McLaughlin who signed with Benedictine College last year.
“The Northview football program and coaches are extremely proud of these three young men as they get the opportunity to continue their academic and athletic careers at the next level,” Northview Chiefs head coach Derek Marshman said. “All three individuals handled things the right way, taking care of the classroom first and making academics a top priority. They all have worked extremely hard for this opportunity. I am excited to see what the future holds for these young men.”
For a complete list of area signees, click here.
Pictured top: (L-R) Jacob Hawkins, Garrick Davis and Cameron Findley. Pictured below: The three sign their National Letters of Intent Wednesday afternoon at Northview High School. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Three North Escambia Teachers Selected As Who’s Who Top Educators Of America
February 6, 2020
Three North Escambia teachers were among just 26 educators in the state of Florida selected for inclusion into the Top Educators of America 2020 by The Who’s Who Directories.
They are Candice Blackburn from Molino Park Elementary School, Savanna Jernigan from Jim Allen Elementary School, and Erica Minchew from Kingsfield Elementary School.
All selected educators that appear in the Top Educators of America have been included by a nomination process only. Upon receipt of a nomination, editors assess the educator’s impact within the educational community. This includes a review of years of service, educational background, remarks by the nominator and an interview with the nominee.
Pictured top: (L-R) Candice Blackburn from Molino Park Elementary School, Savanna Jernigan from Jim Allen Elementary School, and Erica Minchew from Kingsfield Elementary School.