Escambia County To Hold Public Input Meeting On Future Land Use Agricultural Areas
October 8, 2020
Escambia County Development Services Department will host a citizen engagement meeting on Monday, October 26, at 6 p.m. about the proposed transitional future land use category for agricultural areas.
The Agricultural Residential (AR) future land use category is intended for routine agricultural and silvicultural (forestry related) related activities and low to medium density residential uses. It also allows for commercial activity limited to those endeavors ancillary to agricultural and silvicultural pursuits or in support of agricultural activities such as seed, feed and food outlets, farm equipment and repair and veterinary services.
The category would allow for a residential maximum density of one dwelling unit per four acres.
The meeting will be held on Monday, October 26 at the Escambia County Central Office Complex at 3363 West Park Place. It will be live streamed on the county’s Facebook page.
Agenda items will include:
- Proposed draft Ordinance amending the Escambia County Comprehensive Plan for the purpose of establishing the “Agriculture Residential” (AR) future land use category; and
- Proposed draft Ordinance amending the Escambia County Land Development Code for the purpose of implementing the new AR future land use category.
A form for additional public input will also be made available after the meeting.
For more information, call (850) 595-3466 or email ADHOLMER@myescambia.com.
Click map to enlarge.
Gulf Power Foundation Donates $100K Toward Hurricane Sally Recovery
October 8, 2020
The Gulf Power Foundation has provided four $25,000 grants to local charities along with other donations for Hurricane Sally recovery.
The financial contributions were made to
- Salvation Army – $25,000
- Red Cross – $25,000
- United Way of West Florida – $25,000
- Manna Food Bank – $25,000
In addition to the financial contribution, Gulf Power donated food and water from the area staging sites that housed visiting lineworkers from utilities and contract companies across the country. More than 6,000 workers from 24 states traveled to Northwest Florida to aid restoration efforts after Sally, a Category 2 hurricane, made landfall September 16. These items were given to places such as Manna Food Bank, Feeding the Gulf Coast, Escambia County Public Schools Foundation and Escambia County Fire Rescue.
The Gulf Power Foundation has operated for 30 years as an independent not-for-profit organization, partnering and investing in communities throughout Northwest Florida. The Foundation is one of the region’s largest corporate foundations, funded entirely through resources independent of Gulf Power’s customers.
Century Man Accused Of Attempting To Rob Woman Before Fleeing On A Girl’s Bicycle
October 8, 2020
A Century man is accused of attempted to rob a woman before fleeing on a girl’s bicycle.
Alfreco Lett, 48, was charged with felony attempted robbery. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday with bond set at $30,000.
Lett allegedly approached a woman outside of her residence on Archie Road and demanded money. As she tried to retreat inside her home, Lett jumped on her porch, began yelling and cursing while standing close enough to her face to spit on her, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said when she told Lett that she did not have any money, Lett hit HER in the mouth, causing her lip to bleed.
Lett then jumped on a girl’s bicycle and rode away toward Salter’s Lake Road, an arrest report states.
The victim told deputies that she knows lett, and he currently lives in a tent on on Pond Street in Century.
Witnesses corroborate the victim’s statements.
Escambia Man Arrested On 15 Child Pornography Charges
October 8, 2020
Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, with assistance from the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, arrested 44-year old Shawn Eric Caron of 231 Tallow Tree Drive, Pensacola on 15 counts of possession of obscene material depicting child sexual conduct.
The investigation began after an agent identified images of child pornography being downloaded and shared from a computer at Caron’s residence, according to FDLE. The images depicted female and male children under the age of 10.
Caron was arrested in Baldwin County and is awaiting extradition to Escambia County, Florida.
High Speed Chase From Gonzalez To Nine Mile Road Ends With Arrest Of Molino Man
October 7, 2020
A high speed chase that started in the Gonzalez area Tuesday night ended with the capture of a Molino man behind a Nine Mile Road business.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said they were attempting to serve an arrest warrant for a gun charge on Trey Edward Hudson when he fled in a vehicle from Batson Lane. Deputies gave chase, with Hudson making his way to I-10.
He exited I-10 onto West Nine Mile Road and ran from his vehicle. He was taken into custody behind Beard Equipment Company at 3195 West Nine Mile Road and booked into the Escambia County Jail.
Hudson is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, failure to appear, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, and fleeing and eluding at a high speed.
He is being held without bond.
Cantonment Woman Charged With Child Cruelty For Allegedly Spanking Girl With Extension Cord
October 7, 2020
A Cantonment woman has been charged after allegedly hitting a child multiple times with an extension coard.
Baretha Kendra Grandison, 35, was charged with felony child cruelty. She remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday with bond set at $50,000.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that Grandison had spanked her with an extension cord. That left “bruises, marks and welts”, according to an arrest report.
The report states Grandison said she had spanked the victim on the buttocks with a black leather belt but never used an extension cord. Grandison said the underage victim had been caught sending photos to teenage boys on her phone.
The age of the victim, and the relationship between the victim and grandison were redacted from the arrest report.
Century Still Finalizing Plan To Begin Hurricane Sally Debris Pick Up
October 7, 2020
The Town of Century is still finalizing their Hurricane Sally Debris pick up plan, three weeks after landfall.
An interlocal agreement between the town and Escambia County is in its final stages. Under the agreement, Escambia County’s north end debris contractor, Roads, Inc., will pick up debris in the town, and Century will foot the bill for the portion not reimbursed by FEMA and the state. Interim Town Manager Vernon Prather said that would amount to a 12.5% share for Century.
In an email to Prather, Century town attorney Matt Dannheisser cautioned that the agreement should specify that the town will only be responsible for removal cost for debris collected within the town limits, not in nearby unincorporated areas.
Lawyers for the town and county will finalize the agreement, with the caveat that Century wants t to be notified if and when the total cost hits $100,000 for a town cost of $12,500. That’s because, according to Prather, Century’s general fund has limited funds.
He said the town was financially ill prepared for a disaster.
Atmore Runoff Election: Incumbent Harrison Defeats Gideons For Council Seat
October 7, 2020
Incumbent Chris Harrison was reelected to a third term on the Atmore City Council during a Tuesday runoff election.
With 121 votes, Harrison defeated challenger Bub Gideons with 100 votes for the District 5 seat.
“There are no words to express my gratitude for your support,” Harrison wrote on social media Tuesday night. “I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity to continue to serve as your councilman. I will strive to do my best in the efforts to make this city even better. Serving you is priority.”
In August, Gideons was on top with 124 votes in a three-way race that included Harrison with 106 votes and Sandra Gray with 98. A runoff was forced since no candidate received a majority of votes cast.
There will be two new council members –Eunice Johnson in District 3 and Shawn Lassiter in District 4 — when the Atmore council is sworn in next month. In addition to Harrison, incumbents Web Nall in District 1 and Jerome Webster in District 2 were also reelected for another term.
Atmore Mayor Jim Staff was also reelected in August for a third term.
Pictured: Atmore council member Chris Harrison listens to a speaker during a council meeting. NorthEscamba.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Here’s The Deal With The Pensacola Bay Bridge, Those Barges And Hurricane Delta
October 7, 2020
The Florida Department of Transportation says they are actively monitoring Hurricane Delta, and they are preparing for possible impacts including heavy rain, flooding and storm surge in Northwest Florida. And those Skanska barges.
“FDOT has made clear it expects the contractors on the Pensacola Bay Bridge to properly secure all equipment ahead of the storm,” according to a statement Tuesday.
A statement released by Skanska USA said, “We continue to closely monitor Hurricane Delta’s path and remain in communication with key partners. Due to the impending hurricane, we are actively securing the project site and all floating equipment. Our main priority remains the safety of the surrounding community and our workers.”
Bridge inspection teams are at the ready to monitor the possibility of bridge closures in the region and crews stand prepared to respond to damage resulting from the storm.
FDOT and its partners have made the reopening of the Pensacola Bay Bridge a top priority with numerous efforts underway. Additional dive teams have been deployed, bringing the total to eight, to assist with the final inspection.
Demolition is focused on three of the spans with the purpose of removing the damaged portions while preventing any further damage to the structure. In the interest of safety, crews are also utilizing remote controlled jack hammers on portions of the structure.
The contractor has ordered three additional cranes to replace existing cranes that were damaged or lost to assist in the process. Two additional subcontractors are also on site with additional equipment and 40 additional personnel to expedite demolition.
Recommended repairs to the damaged areas of the Pensacola Bay Bridge will take approximately six months to complete.
“FDOT recognizes that businesses impacted by the closure of the bridge are concerned about the extended time this critical connection will be out of use,” the agency said in a statement Tuesday.
Pictured: A remote controlled jack hammer being used to demolish a collapsed portion of the Pensacola Bay Bridge.
Four Injured In Highway 29 Wreck
October 6, 2020
Four people were injured in a two vehicle wreck Tuesday afternoon on Highway 29 in front of the paper mill in Cantonment.
One person was taken to the hospital as a trauma alert, and three others suffered injuries that were not considered life threatening in the crash involving a Dodge Ram 2500 and a Hyundai Genesis about 12:45 p.m.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released additional details.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
