Flomaton Police Holding ‘Fill The Cruiser’ Toy Drive On Friday
December 16, 2020
The Flomaton Police Department will hold a “Fill the Cruiser” toy drive on Friday.
Gift donations for children ages 1-13 can be placed in the Flomaton police cruiser that will be parked outside the police department at 2125 Ringold Street. Gifts should be unwrapped so they can better organized.
The gifts will be distributed to local children in need. Any families in the Flomaton Police Department jusrdiction that may need the gifts, or anyone that knows of a family in need, can call the Flomaton Police Department at (251) 296-5811 and ask for the chief of police.
Boil Water Notice Issued After Old Chemstrand Road Water Main Break
December 16, 2020
A boil water notice has been issued following a water main break on Old Chemstrand Road.
Gonzalez Utilities Association has issued the boil water notice for customers in the following areas;
- 2nd Avenue
- 3rd Avenue
- 4th Avenue
- 5th Avenue
- 6th Avenue
- 7th Avenue
- 1415 to 1693 Old Chemstrand Road
Residents are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use eight drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water for water to be used for drinking or cooking purposes.
For questions or concerns, call Gonzalez Utilities at (850) 968-5434 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Boutique Air Offering Daily Flights From Pensacola To North Alabama
December 16, 2020
A ribbon cutting was held Tuesday for Boutique Air, the seventh airline at the Pensacola International Airport.
Boutique Air offers two daily flights between Pensacola (PNS) And Muscle Shoals (MSL) in north Alabama. The first flight lands in Pensacola at 10:42 a.m. and departs for Muscle Shoals at 11:12 a.m. The second flight lands in Pensacola at 4:48 p.m. and takes off at 5:18 p.m. returning to Northwest Alabama Regional Airport. The flight time between PNS and MSL is an hour and 20 minutes.
Boutique Air lauds a private flight for the cost of commercial and will operate a Pilatus PC-12 which seats up to 10 passengers. Boutique partners with United Airlines, which enables travelers to book and connect through the global United network. Passengers on Boutique Air flights can earn and redeem miles for flights through United’s frequent flyer program.
First COVID-19 Vaccine In Escambia County Arrives At Naval Hospital Pensacola
December 16, 2020
The first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine in Escambia County arrived Tuesday in Escambia County at Naval Hospital Pensacola. The first vaccinations at the facility are expected to begin on Wednesday.
Vaccination is voluntary and, in addition to front line health care workers, commands are coordinating with installation leadership to administer vaccines to first responders, such as emergency management service personnel and security forces.
Naval Hospital Pensacola was one of the facilities selected to receive the vaccine in a phased, standardized and coordinated strategy for prioritizing and administering the vaccine.
Bloody Woman Screaming In Local Street Leads To Human Trafficking Arrest
December 16, 2020
A bloody woman screaming on a Flomaton street led to a human trafficking arrest last month, the Flomaton Police Department said on Monday.
Flomaton Police responded after receiving a call that the woman was standing in Dr. Van Avenue on November 1. Officers arrived on scene to find the female has already been picked up by a man driving a white car.
During their investigation, Flomaton Police were able to identify the vehicle and its owner. Alabama State Troopers located the vehicle on I-65 near Montgomery. The woman was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Troopers identified the driver as LaShawn Maurice Owens and charged him with human trafficking. Troopers said Owens trafficked the victim between Alabama, Florida and Georgia.
Salzman Drafting Bill To Implement ECUA Term Limits, Oversight Commission
December 15, 2020
State Rep. Michelle Salzman is drafting a bill that would bring term limits and an oversight committions to the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority.
ECUA was created as a local governmental body with elected board members as the Escambia County Utilities Authority by an act of the Florida Legislature back in 1981 with control over water and wastewater services in Escambia County, Sanitation services were added in 1992.
Salzman wants to rewrite that legislative act that gives ECUA its authority after a 2018 grand jury investigation that was not made public until September 2020.
“I’m not trying to create a political issue or red tape, but we just need to make sure we don’t make those mistakes again. If we don’t see a positive change, we can do more or consider dissolving the entity altogether if that is best for the citizens,” Salzman said. “The current way the special act is written, there is no authority over the five board members, no way to hold them accountable for how they operate.”
She said term limits, likely three terms or 12 years, are needed. While she did not specifically mention him, Larry Walker served on the ECUA board representing District 5 for nearly three decades – from 1988 to 2000 and 2004 until his defeat by political newcomer Kevin Stephens in 2020.
Fresh into her first term in the Florida House, Salzman is calling for an oversight commission as an ECUA budgetary watchdog. There is currently a Citizens Advisory Committee that is appointed by the five-member ECUA board, but it has no real authority.
She wants the oversight commission to be appointed by the Escambia County Commission and the Pensacola City Council, but does not want those bodies to serve as the committee. She wants the oversight commission to have direct input on the ECUA budget.
“I want them to suggest changes, and if the ECUA board does not implement the suggestions, then maybe require a super majority vote. That gives the commission the authority of say ‘you should look at this’,” she said.
And also wants to make sure ECUA follows the state bidding process not using the single bidding process.
Salzman said she is working with Sen. Doug Broxson on the local bill and anticipates support from the local legislative delegation to make changes at ECUA. In January, the local delegation will hold a public meeting on local issues.
“We don’t need to remove the whole reason ECUA is there; we don’t need to take all of their authority away from them,” she added.
Monday Night Fire Was A Very Close Call For Flomaton Coffee House
December 15, 2020
A fire Monday night was a very close call for the American Coffee House on Highway 31 in Flomaton.
A trailer parked in the parking lot of the business was destroyed by fire, just a few feet away from the front porch of the business.
Fire departments including Flomaton and the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue were able to keep the blaze from causing any significant damage to the coffee house.
The trailer reprtedly contained household items. There was no word on the cause of the fire about 8 p.m., and no injuries were reported.
Pictured top: Fire destroyed this trailer just feet from the American Coffee House in Flomaton Monday night. Photo by John Fowler for NorthEscambia.com. Pictured below: Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Tale Of Two Lost R̶e̶i̶n̶d̶e̶e̶r Donkeys From Bratt On The Auction Block At Christmastime
December 15, 2020
Two little donkeys were found by North Highway 99 in a lot.
Like every person down in North Escambia, they liked Christmas a lot.
They loved Christmas. Every bit of the season.
But somehow they were lost, and no one knew the reason.
In November, they were found not far from the Bratt caution light.
They had tried to find their way home, but was it left or was it right?
Someone saw them on the road and made that 911 call.
And they were picked up by the sheriff’s office before nightfall.
The Escambia Sheriff’s Office searched for clues,
and the donkeys were on NorthEscambia.com, with lots of views.
But no one called to claim them and get them out of town.
Christmas was coming, and hope for Christmas was looking down.
They knew Sheriff Morgan would soon hold a Molino auction sale.
Not the best way to find a home, but they’d soon be out of donkey jail.
They tried to make a jailbreak, impersonating Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
They failed, badly failed. And the sheriff’s auction was set for the Thursday near.
I’ll be home for Christmas, one was caught humming,
I’ll have a family, another sang, Christmas is coming!
If you’d like to give the donkey duo a Christmas home,
The auction is at 10 am Thursday, set a reminder on your phone.
The sheriff’s sale is at the Molino Sheriff’s Office parking lot,
You’ll need cash to buy them, sold on the spot.
The little donkeys from Bratt will have a home with Christmas cheer,
And happiness for all North Escambia folks far and near.
And when the donkeys have a home, all the North Escambia Whos down in Wooville
will be happy from Bratt, Molino, Walnut Hill, Cantonment and to Byrneville.
Poem by NorthEscambia.com with our apologies to Dr. Seuss. Reindeer donkey Photoshop photo alteration by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
No One Has Claimed $40K For Winning Lottery Ticket Sold In Jay Seven Months Ago
December 15, 2020
No one has claimed a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket sold seven months ago in Jay.
The ticket sold at the Farmers Country Market on Highway is worth $40,351.08 after matching all five numbers in the May 15 Fantasy 5 drawing. The winner numbers were 5-9-11-26-29.
Another winning ticket sold at the Milton Exxon on Caroline Street in Milton has been claimed by Mack L. Dixon of Bagdad.
Correctional Officers In Century Assaulted In Two Separate Incidents
December 15, 2020
Correctional officers in Century were recently assaulted by inmates in two separate incidents, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
Inmate Jamaal Dunbar assaulted an officer by striking them in the face.
Inmate Aaron Reyna assaulted an officer by striking them. The correctional officer was injured and evaluated by medical staff.
In both cases, FDC said staff responded appropriately, and the inmate was subdued.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.