A Very Special Mardi Gras Parade (With Photo Gallery)
February 15, 2020
A very special Mardi Gras parade was held Friday morning for the special needs students of Escambia Westgate School.
With plenty of beads, Moon Pies, stuffed animals and smiles, the parade rolled through the school parking lot for students that might not otherwise be able to attend a regular Mardi Gras parade.
Grand marshal of the parade was Escambia Westgate teacher Rhonda Martin (pictured below). She was one of the founders of the parade 27-years ago, and Friday was her last parade as a teacher because she is retiring.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Celebrates Tornado Recovery With Tree Giveaway
February 15, 2020
The 4th Annual Tree Giveaway and Tornado Remembrance was held Friday in Century.
Attendees were able to choose two free trees –either red maple, Shumard oak or flatwoods plum trees. A crepe myrtle tree was planted in front of the Ag Building on West Highway 4 in remembrance of the tornado.
The program was sponsored by the Town of Century, Escambia County and the Florida Forest Service. It marked the fourth anniversary of an EF-3 tornado that struck Century on February 15, 2016.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge
Rain Chance Returns Tonight
February 15, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after 4am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 43. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 62. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 7pm. Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Washington’s Birthday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Monday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Patchy fog after 9pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Areas of fog before 9am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 75. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 71. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 48. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 54.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 56.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.
ECUA Sewage Spills: 307,000 Gallons Into A Swamp; 8,000 Gallons Into A Stream
February 15, 2020
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority had a 307,000 gallon sewage spill into a swamp and a seperate spill that resulted in 8,000 gallons of raw sewage into a stream, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
307,000 Gallon Spill
An estimated 307,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled into a swampy area near Boiling Brook Circle. ECUA responded to a sewer odor complaint in the 200 block of Boiling Brook Circle. When they arrived on scene, they found sewer smell was coming from a remote swampy area north the address, between the address and I-10.
Once they were able to get into the swampy area to assess they situation, they discovered a damaged sewer main and an overflowing manhole. Crews were able to successfully stop the sewage flow by plugging the manhole at the south end of Coronet Drive and installing a holding tank.
The damaged main is being repaired by an approved contractor, and bacterial monitoring was initiated.
In accordance with standard operating procedure, the ECUA notified the State Warning Point, the Escambia County Health Department and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
8,000 Gallon Spill
On Friday a contractored bored through a sewer force main at 1876 East Nine Mile Road, near University Parkway. Approximately 8,000 gallons of raw sewage entered a nearby stream, according to a FDEP report.
Crews cleaned up the remaining spill and applied biocide to the area.
Winning $68K Fantasy Five Ticket Sold On Nine Mile Road
February 15, 2020
Someone is over $68,000 richer this morning after purchasing a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket at a Nine Mile Road convenience store.
The ticket sold at the Beulah Texaco at 6500 West Nine Mile Road was one of three winning tickets sold for Friday night’s drawing and is worth $68,640.92. Other winning tickets were sold in Orlando and Jacksonville.
The 347 tickets matching four numbers won $95.50 each. Another 10,263 tickets matching three numbers are worth $9 each, and 97,135 ticket holders won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
Friday’s winning numbers were 2-7-8-25-28.
Six People Charged In Escambia County Valentine’s Day Drug Bust
February 15, 2020
Six people were busted in a drug operation on Valentine’s Day in Escambia County.
On Friday, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit and SWAT team executed a search warrant at a home located in the 100 block of Concordia Boulevard. Inside the home, deputies found 984.8 grams of spice, 13.6 grams of methamphetamine, and small amounts of heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine. Deputies also located a firearm and $3,671 dollars in cash.
Jacob Brill, Kathleen Taylor, and Sarah Cox were arrested and charged with trafficking in synthetic cannabinoids, possession of heroin, possession of methamphetamine and possession of cocaine.
Russo Vincent was arrested and charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, trafficking in synthetic cannabinoids, possession of heroin, possession of methamphetamine and possession of cocaine.
Josey Brill and Faith Custer were arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Photos: Jim Allen Elementary Holds Valentine’s Day Heart Run
February 15, 2020
Jim Allen Elementary School held their annual Heart Run on Valentine’s Day Friday.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flags Fly At Half Staff In Florida To Mark Parkland Shooting Anniversary
February 15, 2020
Friday was Marjory Stoneman Douglas Remembrance Day in Florida.
The day marked two years since the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered flags flown at half staff at all government buildings in the state.
Pictured: The flag at half staff on Friday at Bratt Elementary School. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Man Found Shot To Death In Escambia County Front Yard
February 14, 2020
A man found shot to death in a front yard in Escambia County Friday morning has been identified as 33-year old Tony Grandison, Jr.
Grandison’s roommate came home to find Grandison in the yard about 6:30 a.m. near Brook Meadow Lane and Winodee Road, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s OFfice. Shell casings were also found nearby.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is continuing their investigation.
Photos by Mac McAllister WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rigby Road Bridge Closed For Repairs; Photos Show Conditions Under Bridge
February 14, 2020
Rigby Road in Bratt was closed Thursday for repairs to the bridge over Beaver Dam Creek.
The wood piling bridge constructed in 1965 is expected to be closed for about two weeks.
Photographs taken under the 75-foot long bridge Thursday afternoon showed obvious deterioration on a piling (pictured below) and a jack supporting the middle of the bridge (above). It was not known if the jack was in place prior to the closure, or if it was a sign of work that was already underway.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
