Friday Night Football Finals
November 1, 2019
Here are Friday night football finals from around the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
- Northview 40, Jay 7
- West Florida 40, Tate 26
- Pine Forest 49, Gulf Breeze 7
- Escambia 52, Pensacola High 7
- Pensacola Catholic 29, Milton 28
- Oak Mountain, Ala. 27, Pace 24
- Vernon 36, Port St. Joe 13
ALABAMA
- Escambia County (Atmore) 24, Marion 16
- Escambia Academy (Atmore) 48, Fort Dale Academy (Greenville) 28
- T.R. Miller 7, W.S. Neal 6
- Flomaton 22, Southern Choctaw 8 (Thursday p.m.)
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Discrimination Lawsuit Against Sheriff David Morgan Settled
November 1, 2019
A discrimination lawsuit again Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan has been settled out of court.
The federal suit was filed by former Col. Laura Montoya against Morgan, the county and other employees of the Sheriff’s Office. Montoya claimed she was passed over for promotions, berated and demoted because of race and gender.
A $100,000 settlement was reached in the case by the Florida Sheriff’s Risk Management Fund (“FSRMF”), which is ECSO’s insurer, and Montoya, according to a statement released Thursday afternoon by the Sheriff’s Office.
The complete statement from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is below.
Escambia Fire Rescue Responds To Smoke Reported In Century Prison Dorm
November 1, 2019
Multiple area fire departments responded to Century Correctional Institution early Friday morning after a report of light smoke and fire alarms in one of the dorm units.
The smoke was reportedly traced to an electrical problem in a heating unit. There were no injuries reported in the 1 a.m. incident.
The Century, McDavid, Walnut Hill, Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Flomaton Fire Department and Escambia County EMS responded to the call.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Photos: Trunk Or Treaters Enjoy The Night
November 1, 2019
Several churches and community organizations held Trunk or Treat events Thursday night to provide a safe alternative for children.
Instead of going door to door in a neighborhood, children go car to car or tent to collect their candy.
“The turnout has been great, and the kids are having a great time,” Century Chamber of Commerce President Mary Bourgeois said during the chamber’s event at Showalter Park. It was the first time the chamber held a trunk or treat with several community groups and businesses taking part. Volunteers from Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue were also on hand with a special witch’s brew, and a few brave souls took the plunge in a dunking booth despite cold windy conditions.
At Highland Baptist Church in Molino, children also enjoyed trunk or treating, receiving candy in family friendly environment.
For a photo gallery from the Century Chamber event, click here.
For a photo gallery from the Highland Baptist event in Molino, click here.
NorthEscambia.com and courtesy photos, click to enlarge.
3-Year Old Struck And Killed By Vehicle In Atmore
October 31, 2019
A young child was struck and killed by a vehicle Thursday night in Atmore.
It happened in the Fillmore Drive driveway entrance to the the Lil’ Angels daycare located directly across from Rachel Patterson Elementary School on Rockaway Creek Road.
Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks said the 3-year old was hit by a vehicle driven by a teenage sibling. When officers arrived at the daycare, the child was found in the driveway and pronounced deceased at the scene by medics.
“According to witnesses at the scene, a female was seen exiting the daycare and began walking to a vehicle. Witnesses said two small children followed behind her and when the vehicle began moving, one of the children was struck. The other child was not injured,” Brooks said.
The driver of the vehicle was later identified as the child’s 15-year old sister.
Brooks stressed that the accident was in no way related to Halloween or trick-or-treating.
Names have not been released. The accident remained under investigation Thursday night.
Editor’s note: The age of the child has been updated to 3; police first stated on scene that the child was believed to be 4-years old.
Pictured top: The vehicle that struck and killed a 3-year old child Thursday night in Atmore. Pictured below: Officers investigate the accident at the rear entrance to the Lil’ Angels Daycare. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle School Placed On Lockdown Due To Threat
October 31, 2019
Ransom Middle School was placed on a brief lockdown Thursday morning due to a threat.
The written threat was located within the school, but it was not immediately known if it was left Thursday or sometime previously, according to Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Andrew Hobbs. He said surveillance video was being reviewed as the investigation continues.
Escambia County School District Deputy Superintendent Norm Ross said the lockdown was brief, lasting only about 15 minutes before it was lifted.
The exact nature of the threat was not released by the school district or Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Parents were notified of the lockdown by a telephone callout from the school.
File photo.
Century Considers Millions In Proposals To Fix Gas, Sewer Problems With Little Upfront Cash
October 31, 2019
Century is considering two proposals to bail the town out of million of dollars of trouble with the natural gas department and aging wastewater treatment facility (WWTP) without much upfront cash.
Millions In Sewer System Problems
The nonprofit Florida Rural Water Association (FRWA) has created an asset management plan that identifies the most urgent and critical needs in the town’s water system. The plan is a requirement for participating in the State Revolving Fund Program. Century may receive financing or a grant up to 90% of an estimated $7 million plus price tag to fix the WWTP and sewer system to bring them into compliance with Florida Department of Environmental Protection regulations.
If the town receives a 90% grant, they hope to cover most or all of the 10% match with funds from Sen. Doug Broxson and the state, and Commission Steven Barry and Escambia County.
Installing Gas Meters At No Real Cost
Florida Gas Utility (FGU) is proposing to connect Century to the Peninsula Pipeline Company (PPC) and the Florida Gas Transmission (FGT) Transportation Service Agreement, build a gate station for the town, connect to the town’s existing delivery system, and replace every natural gas meter not covered an existing agreement with Pensacola Energy.
Century currently receives service from the Gulf South Pipeline on a “pay as you go” type rate for the quantity of pipeline capacity at $1 per dekatherm, which is 1 million BTUs.
FGU is recommending a 20 year term with the additional connection to Peninsula Pipeline at a cost of 40 cents per dekatherm. There would be a contracted capacity of 120 dekatherm per day in summer, 750 dekatherm per day in winter. That’s higher than the town’s historical usage, allowing for growth. There would be a 273,000 minimum over the first five years.
Century would also need additional capacity at a cost of 6 cents per dekatherm, using excess capacity from the Town of Jay. The total expected cost would be 46 cents per dekatherm, compared to $1 from Gulf South.
Under the agreement, FGU would build a new gate station to connect to PPC and pay the estimated $200,000 to $250,000 cost normally paid by the customer. In addition, PPC would build Century’s part of the station and charge the town for the actual cost of such work plus a negotiated markup estimated at $50,000 to $75,000.
Pensacola Energy is under contract to replace 10 commercial gas meters, including the meter at Century Correctional Institution. FPU will replace all other meters, both commercial and residential, for the actual costs plus a negotiated markup over time. The cost is estimated at $75,000 for 500 meters at $150 per meter.
In order to pay for the gate station and meter replacements, FGU will bill Century the 46 cents per dekatherm for the pipeline capacity. The town will also repay the gate station at 22 cents per dekatherm and 33 cents per dekatherm for the meter installations for a total of $1.01 per dekatherm, just a penny over the current costs on Gulf South.
Pictured: Century’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Escambia Man Killed In Okaloosa I-10 Crash
October 31, 2019
An Escambia County man was killed in a traffic crash Wednesday night on I-10 in Okaloosa County.
Daniel Joseph Gafford, 39, was westbound on I-10 in a 2002 Mercedes Sprinter Van when he failed to maintain a single lane and struck a truck parked on shoulder due to a maintenance issue, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Gafford was transported to North Okaloosa Medical Center were he was later pronounced deceased.
The occupant of the truck, 48-year old Kenneth Boggs of Port St. Joe, suffered minor injuries.
One Injured In Two Vehicle Wreck Near Road Prison
October 31, 2019
At least one person was injured in a two vehicle crash Wednesday night on Highway 297A near the Escambia County Road Prison.
The injuries were not considered to be life threatening. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Spooky Photos: It Happened One Night At The Molino Library
October 31, 2019
“It Happened One Night at the Molino Library” featured goofy library witches and trick-or-treating through the library. Those who dared also toured a haunted house.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
