Man Charged With Holding Patient Hostage At West Florida Hospital, Fighting With Deputies
March 3, 2021
An Alabama man was arrested Tuesday after allegedly holding a patient hostage at West Florida Hospital, fighting staff and deputies and even grabbing a deputy’s gun.
Timothy Rains, 26, of Loxley, Alabama, is charged with multiple counts of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer or EMT, kidnapping false imprisonment, damaging property, resisting arrest with violence, and obstructing police.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was called to a hostage situation in the Behavior Unit at West Florida Hospital about 2:30 p.m.
An arrest report states Rains was initially taken to the hospital as a voluntary patient for a medical condition. He was placed in the Behavior Unit due to lack of bed space in the regular emergency room.
Security staff said Rains became verbally aggressive when asked to put on hospital clothes and provide a urine sample. He then punched a hole in the wall and pulled the door scanner off the wall.
The report states Rains entered another patient’s room, locked the door and then blocked the door — not allowing the patient to leave or hospital staff to get into the room. Hospital staff asked Rains several times to let the patient out of the room, but he refused.
According to the report, hospital staff broke a window in an attempt to get the patient out of the room. Staff tried to use an aluminum crutch to pry the door open, but Rains grabbed the crutch and began swinging it at hospital staff.
The report states Rains eventually allowed the patient to leave the room, but he kept using the crutch as a weapon against hospital staff before they finally pulled it away from him.
Multiple deputies then tried to detain Rains, but he wouldn’t comply, according to the report. Rains grabbed ahold of a deputy’s gun in his holster, but he was stopped from getting the gun as deputies pinned his hand.
A deputy used a taser on Rains, but it proved ineffective. Rains then grabbed another deputy’s taser, pointed it at the deputy’s chest and pulled the trigger multiple times, according to the arrest report.
According to the report, after more struggles, deputies were eventually able to handcuff Rains and arrest him.
Rains’ bond was set at $155,000.
Missing Kids Found Near Munson, Manhunt Underway For Their Biological Mother
March 3, 2021
Two young boys kidnapped Tuesday in Louisiana were found safe Wednesday afternoon near Munson in Santa Rosa County, but their mother remained on the run.
Kaesyn Heck, age 8, and Jax Matthews, age 4, were kidnapped by their biological mother Shawntel Heck Tuesday afternoon from their father’s home in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, according to Louisiana authorities. The children were in a 2013 Hyundai Elantra stolen from the father’s residence.
Deputies received information about a possible destination for Heck in Santa Rosa County. The two children were recovered about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at an address off Byron Cooley Road, about three miles southwest of the Munson fire station.
The suspect fled from the area and a K-9 search began, according to Sgt. Rich Aloy of the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. As of about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, deputies were still searching for the suspect.
Shawntel Heck is a former resident of the Milton area, according to Santa Rosa County Jail records.
Bratt Man Pursues Suspected Burglars Driving Stolen Truck In ‘Wild’ Chase
March 3, 2021
A Bratt man pursued suspected burglars driving a stolen truck in what was described by law enforcement as a wild chase during the early morning hours Tuesday.
It all started when a pickup truck was stolen from outside a business in the 11000 block of Highway 97 in Davisville about 2:30 a.m. By 4:30 a.m., the pickup was outside a home in the area of North Highway 99 and Macks Road in Bratt. The resident heard noises and thought his barn was being burglarized. The resident went outside, got in his vehicle and chased the stolen pickup, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The Bratt man called 911 and was able to provide the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office with the license plate number and description of the stolen truck he was chasing.
“It went behind houses and through yards on McElhaney Road,” ECSO spokesperson Amber Southard told NorthEscambia.com. “The man kept following the stolen truck, and the suspects were driving wildly and attempting to elude him.”
The man told deputies that the suspects tried to hit his vehicle, and he was forced to take action avoid a collision several times.
“At one point, a suspect threw a large piece of PVC pipe out of the truck, striking the victim’s truck and damaging his side mirror,” Southard said. The man eventually lost sight of the stolen truck as it headed toward Alabama.
The Atmore Police Department later located the stolen truck and two suspects in a field in the area of Old Bratt Road and Airport Road. Atmore Police said the men were not immediately arrested, but unspecified charges are now pending. Arrest warrants for the vehicle theft are also expected to be issued in Florida.
File photo.
Design Firm Presents New OLF-8 Hybrid Concept During Virtual Town Hall (With Video)
March 3, 2021
The design firm that is working to create an master plan for the OLF-8 site in Beulah held a virtual town hall Tuesday night to present their latest mixed use concept.
On February 18, DPZ CoDesign first presented the new plan to the Escambia County Commission with a combination of commerce, residential and amenities (pictured bottom). The “Adjusted Hybrid Plan” allocates 271 acres to commerce and industrial; 61 acres to residential including duplexes, townhomes and multifamily; 47 acres to a mixed-use center such as residential over retail and office over retail; and 45 acres to trails and public amenities such as a post office, school, day care and community garden.
DPZ presented the plan to the public during the virtual meeting, allowing residents a chance to ask questions and present feedback. Participants were asked to complete a four questions survey, and those results are below. The number of people that took part in the survey was not announced with the results.
Video of the meeting is below; skip ahead to about 5:30 for the beginning of the nearly three hour town hall.
“We are optimistic this new compromise plan will have the political support to move forward into the next phase of the project,” said Marina Khoury, of DPZ CoDesign. “We value continued public engagement and community input.”
The county commission will discuss OLF-8 again at their next meeting.
Free UF/IFAS Dicamba Stewardship Training Available Online For Farmers
March 3, 2021
The University of Florida’s Pesticide Information Office has launched Florida’s virtual 2021 Dicamba Stewardship Training. The training is free, short (roughly 36 minutes), and is virtual. There is no need to physically come into an Extension office to view the training as in years past. Due to the shorter length of this year’s training, there are no pesticide CEUs are associated with it.
This training is required for all applicators who plan to apply (or want the option of applying) dicamba over the top of cotton or soybean. These crop labeled dicamba products are XtendiMax, Engenia, Tavium, and Fexapan. All applicators using these products are required to have a restricted use pesticide license (no supervision of unlicensed applicators).
For the online training and more information, click or tap here. A completion certificate can be printed online to show proof of training.
Pictured: Traditional cotton with dicamba drift injury row (right) vs healthy (left). Photo by Jay Ferrell, UF/IFAS, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Super Delta: Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds Debut New Joint Flight Formation
March 3, 2021
For the first time ever, the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels flew a F-16 Fighting Falcon and F/A-18 Super Hornet flight formation known as the “Super Delta” during a joint training Tuesday afternoon over the Imperial Valley in California.
The formation grew out of a series of joint training opportunities held in 2020 and 2021, including joint training over Escambia County.
The Blue Angels and Thunderbirds will virtually debut a full flight this Memorial Day weekend during the nationwide broadcast of the National Memorial Day Parade: America Stands Tall that will air on ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC affiliate stations nationwide.
Photos top: SSgt Andrew Sarver, Thunderbirds. Photo below: MC2 Cody Hendrix, Blue Angels.
Ascension Sacred Heart To Hold Vaccination Clinics For School District Employees 50 And Older
March 2, 2021
Ascension Sacred Heart is collaborating with the Escambia County School District and the Santa Rosa County School District to provide district employees age 50 and older with the COVID-19 vaccine this week.
Teams from Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart are organizing vaccination clinics for eligible school district employees on Thursday and Saturday at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola. A third clinic will be held Saturday at Parkmore Plaza in Milton, in the former Bealls department store building.
Teams from Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart are organizing vaccination clinics for eligible school district employees on the following dates and locations:
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Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola:
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Thursday, March 4, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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Saturday, March 6, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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Parkmore Plaza in Milton, in the former Bealls department store building:
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Saturday, March 6, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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The partnership plan between Ascension Sacred Heart and the two school districts developed quickly after Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order yesterday which expanded the list of groups eligible for vaccines distributed by the state.
In addition to the first priority groups of long-term care facility staff and residents, healthcare workers and persons 65 and older, the governor’s new order allows the following additional groups to be vaccinated:
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K-12 school employees 50 years of age and older;
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Sworn law enforcement officers 50 years of age and older; and
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Firefighters 50 years of age and older.
Last week, Gov. DeSantis also cleared the way for more people under age 65 to receive shots if they are at increased risk for severe complications from COVID-19.
“We are pleased we were able to quickly reach an agreement with both school districts to vaccinate teachers and support staff who are 50 or older,” said Justin Labrato, chief operating officer of Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart. “We hope to vaccinate about 3,500 to 4,000 employees. By setting up clinics on Thursday and Saturday, we want to make it convenient for school employees to go to either the Milton or Pensacola locations.”
Ascension Medical Group teams will provide first doses of the Moderna vaccine, which requires two shots, spaced about four weeks apart. More more information will be coming from each school district to their eligible employees about how to schedule appointments.
“The Santa Rosa School District is grateful for the partnership with Ascension Sacred Heart and for the opportunity to provide our employees with the vaccine,” said Dr. Karen Barber, superintendent of schools for the Santa Rosa County School District. “Participation in the vaccine clinics beginning this Thursday and Saturday will provide our employees peace of mind as they serve the students and families of Santa Rosa County”.
Any public or private school employee K-12 that has questions about vaccine scheduling or vaccine eligibility can send an email to: COVID19vaccinesupport@ascension.org. Ascension Sacred Heart will assist with the vaccination efforts for any patient that meets the criteria.
Will Condon, president of the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart, said the collaboration with the two school districts reflects the hospital’s mission of caring for the health of children and those most vulnerable to COVID-19.
“We want to protect the health of teachers and all of those who care for our community’s children. This is one more step towards making teachers, parents and school children more confident that our schools can stay open and continue to operate in a safe way,” Condon said. “As more vaccine is produced and becomes available in our communities, we look forward to the time when all school employees will be able to get vaccinated.”
Labrato added that Ascension Sacred Heart also is working on plans to hold vaccination clinics for eligible staff at private schools, law enforcement officers and firefighters who are eligible under the governor’s latest order.
DeSantis Delivers State Of The State Address (With Complete Text)
March 2, 2021
Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis delivered his first State of the State address to a joint session of Florida’s legislature, outlining his vision and priorities for the future of Florida.
During the address, Governor DeSantis called for a focus on education, the environment, law and order, election security and big tech.
The full text of DeSantis’ State of the State address, as prepared for delivery, is below:
Opening
Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, members of the House and Senate and fellow citizens:
I see, in many parts of our country, a sad state of affairs: schools closed, businesses shuttered and lives destroyed.
This calamitous reality is just the beginning of what will likely be long-term damage to children, families and society.
Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind.
While so many other states kept locking people down, Florida lifted people up.
Florida’s schools are open – and we are one of only a handful of states in which every parent has a right to send a child to school in-person.
All Floridians have a right to earn a living – and our citizens are employed at higher rates than those in the nation as a whole.
Every job is essential.
If you are working hard to earn a living, we got your back in the state of Florida.
Every business in Florida has a right to operate. We have stood up for small, family-owned businesses and have saved thousands of them from ruin.
Because of our actions, Florida is leading the nation in the number of people submitting business formation applications and we are one of the top destinations for business relocation.
Friends, legislators, Floridians, lend me your ears: We will not let anybody close your schools, we will not let anybody take your jobs and we will not let anybody close your businesses!
One year ago, COVID-19 had not yet been declared a global pandemic. We had scant knowledge of the virus, little ability to test for it, and no approved treatments.
Today, we have three safe and effective vaccines, great treatments like monoclonal antibodies, and the ability to conduct rapid diagnostic tests.
A lot has happened over the past year.
We are saddened by the thousands of Floridians – and hundreds of thousands of Americans – who have died with COVID. And we sympathize with the family members who in many instances were not even permitted to see their loved ones in person, at a nursing home or in the hospital.
To honor those who have died with COVID and to recognize the toll the virus has taken on family members, the state of Florida will be lowering the flags to half-staff on Wednesday.
We thank the health care professionals throughout Florida who cared for those who became ill due to COVID. This includes frontline doctors and nurses, who provided top-notch care to hospitalized patients, as well as staff at long-term care facilities who worked tirelessly to protect our most vulnerable seniors.
Their efforts helped to save thousands of lives and are a major reason why Florida, with perhaps the most vulnerable population to COVID, has per capita COVID mortality that is below the national average.
From the outset, Florida has been steadfast in focusing efforts on the protection of the elderly. We rejected the policy of sending contagious COVID patients back into nursing homes; indeed, we prohibited the practice. Florida also established COVID-only nursing facilities so that infections in long-term care facilities could be more effectively contained.
And perhaps most importantly, we are prioritizing our senior citizens for vaccinations. Florida is putting Seniors First because it is the best strategy to save lives and is the best way to honor our elders from whom we draw inspiration. We have vaccinated millions of seniors throughout Florida – parents, grandparents, veterans of the second world war, survivors of the holocaust.
We have made vaccinations available all across the state: in retail pharmacies including Publix, Walmart and CVS, at hundreds of hospitals throughout Florida, at drive-thru sites in places like the Villages retirement community, at houses of worship from the First Baptist Church Piney Grove in Lauderdale Lakes to the St. Paul AME in Jacksonville, at senior communities such as Century Village and Kings Point in south Florida, and in underserved areas such as Pahokee.
We even have delivered thousands of shots to homebound seniors in the comfort of their own homes.
Our efforts saved lives. In fact, 40 states have suffered higher COVID mortality for seniors aged 65+ on a per capita basis than Florida.
And the cases and hospitalizations for seniors in Florida have plummeted as vaccinations have increased – since January 30th, the number of seniors hospitalized for COVID has declined by 80% and cases among seniors have declined by 71%.
Florida was right to prioritize the elderly. Seniors First works.
As we worked to protect seniors, we also worked to give opportunities to our kids. Florida has led the way in providing all parents the right to send their kids to school for in-person instruction. Florida is one of only 4 states – and the only large state – to offer in-person instruction to 100% of its students.
Across the nation, millions of students have been locked out of the classroom for nearly a year – and for many there is no end in sight. These students have fallen behind on academics, have been denied the opportunity to participate in activities such as athletics, and have seen their social development stunted.
The consequences of shutting kids out of school for a year, year and a half and maybe even, in some places, two years, will be catastrophic and long-lasting.
The failure of so many places outside of Florida to open schools at the beginning of the school year will go down as one of the biggest policy blunders of our time.
Florida did not make that mistake. We followed the data and stood by our parents and students. We ignored the political posturing and fear-mongering and did what was right for Floridians.
Florida has succeeded where so many other states have failed in providing opportunities for its students in large measure because of the tireless efforts of school superintendents, administrators, teachers and coaches. They knew keeping kids out of school would be a disaster and were not going to let that happen on their watch.
On behalf of a grateful state and millions of grateful parents, thank you.
Given the unique circumstances we faced, you may never have an opportunity to play such a crucial role in ensuring opportunities for students as well as in preventing long-term damage to society.
Open schools have been a godsend to parents throughout Florida, especially for single moms responsible for putting food on the table.
Economic lockdowns are a luxury of the largely affluent Zoom class; many Floridians cannot do their jobs over a computer; they need to show up.
Over the past many months, Florida has led the way in protecting the jobs and livelihoods of its hard-working citizens – from construction workers to bartenders, from servers to hair stylists, everyone has a right to earn a living.
Florida’s efforts have made a lasting impact on the lives of millions of people. But do not take it from me. Let them tell you for themselves:
There are not a whole lot of Floridians who are itching to move from Florida to lockdown states, but there are thousands and thousands of people who are seeking to leave the lockdowns behind for the greener pastures in Florida.
We have long been known as the Sunshine State – but, given the unprecedented lockdowns we have witnessed in other states, I think the Florida sun now serves as a beacon of light to those who yearn for freedom.
Budget/Economy
As we begin this legislative session, I look forward to working with Senate President Wilton Simpson and House Speaker Chris Sprowls. You both have already demonstrated leadership on issues that matter to Floridians and I know you will be great partners for progress.
When the initial fallout from COVID began, there was a lot of concern about whether we could afford to continue with the progress we have already made on priorities like protecting our water resources and K-12 education.
Forecasts were dire. The 2021 Legislative session was shaping up to be a fiscal nightmare.
I am pleased to report that our current fiscal outlook is much better than the bleak forecasts from last spring.
As many of you are probably aware, when the pandemic hit, I vetoed $1 billion from this year’s budget. I also instructed our executive agencies not to spend all of the appropriated funds because we did not know for sure how much revenue we would be taking in.
Because Florida’s economy is open, revenue is coming in at levels far higher than even the most recent revised estimates. For the last three months – December to February – preliminary estimates peg the increase in revenue at more than $800 million over and above the December revenue estimation.
Florida is below the national average in unemployment and much lower than our peer states of TX, NY, and CA. We also anticipate downward revisions of December’s unemployment numbers to reflect even stronger jobs numbers.
As international travel is re-instated and tourism picks up (and I hope the federal government will allow our cruise ships to sail again), the employment outlook should improve even more.
Throughout the pandemic, Florida has not touched one red cent from our rainy day fund.
The bottom line is that we saved Florida’s economy and as a result our budget outlook is positive.
The priorities we’ve championed – from water resources to education to infrastructure – can be honored.
Let us get it done.
I reject reductions in funding for K-12 education. Last session, the Legislature answered my call to increase the average minimum salary for teachers, taking Florida from the bottom half of states to the top 5. Let us keep this momentum going — let us do more this year!
We should not forget that Florida continues to make great strides in K-12 education.
Just last week, the College Board released data showing that Florida ranks no. 2 in the nation in the percentage of graduating seniors who have passed Advanced Placement exams.
Florida leads the nation in school choice.
We are beginning to place a strong – and long overdue – emphasis on vocational education.
Florida has launched an ambitious civics initiative so that students can understand the principles that make our country unique.
Florida is leading on education and we must continue to do so.
We also must continue to protect our natural resources and invest in improvements in water quality. I ask that you continue to fund the key projects – from the EAA reservoir in the south to the projects in the northern everglades – that will impact our state for generations to come, and reaffirms our commitment to Everglades restoration and access to safe, clean water for our communities.
I am also proposing the creation of the Resilient Florida program under the Department of Environmental protection. Through this initiative, Florida will invest $1 billion into projects that help our communities adapt to the threats posed by flooding from intensified storms and sea level rise. I am encouraged by similar proposals from the legislature to address this important issue for our communities, and I look forward to signing into law a program that will make a difference.
Law and Order
Florida is – and must remain – a state dedicated to law and order. When riots broke out across the nation last year, we saw cities ruined by violent mobs. Law enforcement was targeted and lawlessness prevailed. This was not – and must never be – tolerated in the state of Florida.
As we saw rioting in other states last year, I called up the National Guard, mobilized mobile field force teams from the FHP, and worked with local officials like Carlos Gimenez and Lenny Curry to ensure that places like Miami and Jacksonville did not suffer the same fate as Minneapolis and Kenosha. Florida handled it well. But we need to do more.
Working with President Simpson, Speaker Sprowls and law enforcement groups across the state, we have proposed the strongest anti-rioting, pro-law enforcement reforms in the nation.
We will not permit localities to jeopardize the safety of their citizens by indulging in the insane fantasy of defunding law enforcement.
We will not allow our cities to burn and violence to rule the streets.
And we will not leave any doubt in the minds of those who wear the uniform that the state of Florida stands with you.
To paraphrase an old Merle Haggard song, when you mess with the men and women of law enforcement you are walking on the fightin’ side of me.
Big Tech
Speaker Sprowls and Senator Simpson have also been leaders in supporting legislative reforms to protect Floridians from the power of Big Tech.
This is real-life 2021, not fictitious 1984, yet Big Tech wields monopolistic power over the public in ways that would have made the monopolists of the early 20th century blush.
Floridians have a right to control their personal data and Big Tech should not be able to make billions of dollars off us without our informed consent.
Florida has always been a state that strongly supports free speech, and we cannot allow the contours of acceptable speech to be adjudicated by the whims of oligarchs in Silicon Valley.
Nor we can allow Floridians to be “de-platformed” or silenced with no means of recourse, and this is especially true of those who rely on these technology platforms for their livelihoods.
Finally, because Florida is dedicated to free and fair elections, we cannot allow Big Tech to interfere in our elections by putting a thumb on the scale for political candidates favored by Silicon Valley.
Election Integrity
Speaking of elections, we should take a moment to enjoy the fact that Florida ran perhaps the most transparent and efficient election in the nation in 2020. People actually asked, why cannot these other states be like Florida? Such a sentiment would have been unthinkable twenty years ago.
We need to make sure our elections are transparent and run efficiently. There should be no ballot harvesting in the state of Florida. One person, one vote.
We also cannot allow private groups to pour millions of dollars into the administration of our elections. That is a public function and should be done free from this type of private interference.
Let us stay ahead of the curve on election administration – we never want to see the chaos of twenty years ago rear its head in Florida again.
I know these issues are merely scratching the surface of what the House and Senate will tackle this session. Of course, I would be remiss if I did not lend my support to the COVID liability bills for business and health care;
for the Speaker’s bills cracking down on the Chinese Communist Party and other foreign influence;
General reforms to improve the state’s legal climate;
Reform of the emergency powers of local government;
And continued support for infrastructure.
I have no doubt that you will send me a lot more than that.
Conclusion
At the close of the constitutional convention the famed elder statesman, Benjamin Franklin, was asked to be the first to sign the new constitution. Franklin pointed to General Washington’s chair, the back of which had the design of a sun low on the horizon. “There were days,” Franklin remarked, “when I thought this picture of a sun low on the horizon was a setting sun, but I now know it’s a rising sun – a new day for America, a new dawn for freedom.”
Our nation and our state have endured a tumultuous year. Floridians have responded in ways that would make our founders proud.
Because of those efforts, the sun is rising here in Florida – and the Sunshine State will soon reach new horizons.
Century Man Charged With Two Drive-by Shootings, Firing Into A Vehicle, Child Abuse, Numerous Other Felonies
March 2, 2021
A Century man has been accused of two drive-by shootings, firing into an occupied vehicle, weapons violations, child abuse and other felony offenses.
Christopher Torrey, Jr., 28, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, discharge of a weapon in public by firing into an occupied vehicle, firing a weapon into a building, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, two counts of carrying a concealed firearm, four counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon, aggravated child abuse, battery, possession of methamphetamine, and knowingly driving with a suspended license.
An ECSO report also indicates that the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was also involved in the investigation.
On Sunday, Torrey allegedly fired into a vehicle on a Jefferson Avenue. The victim told deputies he was parked on the side Jefferson Avenue speaking to a female. He said Torrey walked down the street firing a handgun into the air before firing directly at his vehicle. One bullet entered the rear passenger quarter panel of the vehicle.
Torey is also accused in two drive-by shootings at the same Jefferson Avenue house on Sunday. He allegedly fired at the house and pointed the gun directly at two individuals. The ECSO recovered .45 caliber and .380 caliber shell casings from the driveway.
Monday morning, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Investigator David Bashore and deputies James Gilman and Jonathan Ates took Torrey into custody after spotting him on Jefferson Avenue. Torrey had a loaded .45 caliber pistol and a loaded .380 caliber pistol on his person, and methamphetamine was found in his vehicle, according to an arrest report.
The child abuse and an aggravated battery charge stemmed from an incident in January during which be became agitated with a female that accused him of cheating on her and some missing money. Torrey allegedly punched her in the head, pushed her onto a bed, and slammed her head against a bathroom mirror. He also threw things around the residence causing physical damage.
There were numerous children present in the home during the incident, according to the ECSO report.
Torrey was being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
New Dollar General Store Planned For Century
March 2, 2021
A new Dollar General is the works for Century.
The development review process is underway for the new store in the 7000 block of North Century Boulevard, on the west side of the road between Highway 4A and West Hecker Road.
According to plans for the proposed store, it will be 9,291 square feet on about 1.5 acres. It will have 31 total parking spaces, with entrances from North Century Boulevard and West Hecker Road. The developer has told the town that they will remove 17 trees from the property. They plan to replant those 17 trees at the site, along with five flowering trees and 15 shade trees in the Nadine McCaw Park on North Century Boulevard, just northeast of the planned store.
Plans for store must pass the development review process and a building permit must be issued before construction can begin.
Because it will be located within the Century town limits, the proposed Dollar General on North Century Boulevard will not require a county zoning amendment like a 10,640 square foot store location under consideration in Walnut Hill. RELATED STORY: Dollar General Wants To Build In Walnut Hill. It Would Change The Future Of North Escambia Rural Zoning.
NorthEscambia.com graphics, click to enlarge.
