Hit And Run Claims Life Of Pedestrian; Seventh Traffic Fatality This Week In Escambia County
July 31, 2019
The seventh traffic fatality this week in Escambia County has occurred in Pensacola.
A pedestrian died as the result of a hit and run on Pace Boulevard and Cervantes Street about 8:30 Tuesday evening. The name of the victim has not yet been released.
The victim was hit by a small, black SUV with tinted windows that fled the scene at a high speed, according to Pensacola Police. The vehicle will likely have front end damage.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1900 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Other traffic fatalities this week in Escambia County included two people in a single vehicle crash on Highway 95A in Cottage Hill, a pedestrian on Pine Forest Road near Nine Mile Road, two people on Pine Forest Road near I-10, and a motorcyclist on Davis Highway.
Commissioner Calls For Elimination Of 4-Cent Gas Tax For ECAT
July 31, 2019
An Escambia County commissioner is calling for the elimination of a 4-cent gas tax to fund Escambia County Area Transit.
Commissioner Doug Underhill says he wants to get rid of the entire tax and force ECAT to scale back operations.
“The gas tax has failed to make ECAT better, only more bloated. 11 of our 22 routes experienced declining ridership in the last 3 years,” Underhill said on social media. “It is time to eliminate this tax and force ECAT to scale back to a sustainable operation.”
The Escambia County Commission is set to hold a public hearing on the gas tax interlocal agreement with Pensacola at 5:32 p.m. Thursday.
The 4-cent per gallon Local Option Gas Tax went into effect on January 1, 2014. The Escambia County Commission and Pensacola City Council entered to an interlocal agreement on the tax to fund ECAT. The Town of Century refused to go along with the increase, but the higher gas tax is still collected in the town for ECAT.
Century refused sign off on an interlocal agreement with Escambia County to allocate additional gas taxes collected in Century to the county for mass transit. Town officials contended the new tax is unfair to North Escambia residents and predicted Century drivers would purchase lower priced gasoline across the state line in Flomaton.
But regardless of Century’s refusal to support the tax, they simply were not allowed opt-out of the tax altogether. The local option fuel tax statute provides that the most populous municipality within the county speaks for all the municipalities in the county on the issue.
The Century Town Council wanted the Florida Legislature to consider exempting the town from the tax, but the proposal never made it to a meeting of the Escambia County State Legislative Delegation because Florida law won’t allow the Legislature to consider such an exemption.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Semi Rear-Ends Car Injuring One Near Century
July 31, 2019
A Century man was injured Tuesday afternoon when his vehicle was rear-ended by a semi truck on Highway 29.
Witnesses said the man, whose name has not been released, was driving at a slow speed southbound on Highway 29 near Tedder Road when the 5:25 p.m. accident occurred. The semi driver attempted to avoid the collision, and lengthy skid marks from the truck were observed on the roadway.
The injured man was transported to the hospital by Escambia County EMS with injuries that were not believed to be life threatening.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Six Schools Recognized For Fire Life Safety Inspection Achievements
July 31, 2019
Six Escambia County Schools were recently recognized for outstanding achievements on their annual life safety inspections.
The Escambia County School District’s Department of Protection Services worked closely with school administrators to improve fire life safety. Administrators and their staffs worked to reduce the risk of potential injuries and property damage from fire.
The schools that had the lowest number of deficiencies and the schools that showed the greatest improvement were recognized by the school board.
Recognized were:
Northview High School
Ransom Middle School
Lipscomb Elementary School
Brentwood Elementary School
Brown Barge Middle School
Washington High School
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Someone Is Stealing Water From Fire Hydrants In Flomaton
July 31, 2019
The Town of Flomaton says someone has been stealing water from fire hydrants, and that’s a problem.
The town says they’ve had several theft reports from hydrants throughout the town.
“We would like to remind everyone that doing so is a federal offense, punishable up to jail time,” the town said in a statement. “We are proud that we provide safe drinking water and wish to keep it that way.”
Anyone that has information about the theft of water from fire hydrants in Flomaton is asked to call the town at (251) 296-2431 or the Flomaton Police Department at (251) 296-5811.
File photo.
Century Begins Budget Talks Thursday
July 31, 2019
The Town of Century begins a series of budget workshops Thursday to create their fiscal year 2019-2020 budget.
Those workshops will be held each Thursday at 3 p.m. through August 22.
Century’s new fiscal year begins October 1.
Master Gardener Open House And Info Session Scheduled
July 31, 2019
Escambia County Extension Service will host a special Volunteer Open House on Tuesday, Aug. 6, for those interested in learning about the University of Florida’s Master Gardener Volunteer Program. The open house will be held at the Escambia County Extension Service offices, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment.
Attendees will learn about training sessions, volunteer activities and the role of master gardeners in our community. Applications will also be available for the 2019-20 fall/winter master gardener training program. During the open house, a program overview and tour of the projects at the Extension Service office will be given by the agent and master gardeners at 9 a.m., lasting approximately 30 minutes.
For information, contact Beth Bolles with Escambia County Extension at (850) 475-5230 or at bbolles@ufl.edu.
Wahoos Stop The Jumbo Shrimp 1-0
July 31, 2019
On a night when Jacksonville’s stadium was virtually empty, the scoreboard was filled with zeroes, the Blue Wahoos reversed the previous game’s storyline with their 1-0 win against the Jumbo Shrimp.
Only two fans, Josh Ribeiro Sr. and his son Josh Ribeiro Jr., watched the game in a special partnership with Dreams Come True of Jacksonville. It is a wish granting organization and the wish Josh Ribeiro Jr. wanted.
Like any other game, The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville was staffed with concessions, food and drink vendors walking the ballpark, team promotion staff and the press box.
But only the Ribeiros were in the stands.
The official attendance was listed at 2 in the recorded box score, setting a Southern League all-time record. In this case, however, it was by design.
The special game experience, entitled “Literal 2 For Tuesday,” was sponsored by Community First Credit Union of Jacksonville and the Dreams Come True foundation.
The Blue Wahoos’ win, one night after a 1-0 loss, clinched the team’s first road series win since May 15 when the Blue Wahoos won three of five games against the Chattanooga Lookouts, now the Cincinnati Reds affiliate. The Blue Wahoos (57-51 overall) and Jumbo Shrimp (50-58) conclude their series Wednesday night.
The Ribeiros watched both teams’ pitching staffs dominate for a second consecutive night.
The Blue Wahoos’ Edwar Colina, making his third start since being promoted from Advance-A Fort Myers Miracle on July 11, had his second consecutive outing without allowing a run.
Colina (2-0) worked 5.2 innings, giving up just three hits, one walk and striking out seven batters to earn a second straight win. He’s now pitched 12.2 scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 1.08.
Colina was followed by relievers Gabriel Moya, who earned his second hold, and Alex Phillips, who picked up his third save. The duo combined for 3.1 perfect innings, facing the minimum 10 batters.
Moya struck out former Blue Wahoos star Lewin Diaz to end the sixth inning with Jacksonville’s Anfernee Seymour stranded at third base.
Diaz, traded Saturday to the Miami Marlins organization in a deal that sent Marlins’ veteran major league reliever Sergio Romo to the Minnesota Twins, continued to struggle since switching dugouts in Jacksonville. Diaz went 0-for-4 and has not had a hit since joining the Jumbo Shrimp.
In the ninth inning, Phillips struck out Diaz for the game’s final out.
The game’s only run was provided by Blue Wahoos’ first baseman Ryan Costello, who smashed a one-out, solo homer in the fifth inning. The Blue Wahoos were held to four hits, Jacksonville had three in an identical box score reversal from Monday’s game.
Trevor Larnach, Jimmy Kerrigan and Jordan Gore had the Blue Wahoos’ other three hits, all singles.
The Jumbo Shrimp received outstanding games from starter Kolton Mahoney (4-1), who went six complete innings, allowing the three hits, three walks and striking out four, along with relievers Jordan Guerrero and Chad Smith, who allowed just one hit, one walk in the last three innings.
The Blue Wahoos win, coupled by the Biloxi Shuckers’ loss Tuesday, moved Pensacola (19-19 second half) to within four games in the second half chase in the South Division. The Blue Wahoos lead the Mississippi Braves by 4.5 games in the overall standings for second-best record.
If Biloxi wins both half-season division crowns, the second-best team makes the playoffs.
The Blue Wahoos will open a five-game homestand Thursday against the Birmingham Barons, the Chicago White Sox affiliate, who are battling for the North Division title, trailing the Montgomery Biscuits.
Two Killed In Pine Forest Road Crash (Updated With Details)
July 30, 2019
Two people were killed in a two vehicle crash Tuesday afternoon on Pine Forest Road at Wilde Lake Boulevard and I-10. Both were in a vehicle that split in half after striking a traffic signal pole.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 51-year old Wendell L. Jones of Pensacola was traveling north on Pine Forest Road at a high rate of speed in a 2010 Dodge Charger. He collided with a Toyota van driven by 81-year old Mary A. Simmons of Cantonment as she attempted to turn from southbound Pine Forest Road to I-10. That caused the Charger to rotate into a traffic signal pole and split in half.
Jones was ejected and pronounced deceased on the scene. His passenger, 33- year old Laura Fulgham of Pensacola was also killed.
Simmons was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries. Her passengers, 8-year old Ella Almond and 4-year old Grant Almond both of Cantonment, were treated and released at Sacred Heart, according to immediately family.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour and traffic camera courtesy FDOT, click to enlarge.
Alleged Intruder Shot And Killed By Homeowner In Ferry Pass
July 30, 2019
An alleged intruder has died after being shot by a homeowner in Ferry Pass early Tuesday morning.
The incident occurred shortly before 1 a.m. in the 7600 block of Lawton Street, south of Olive Road.
The resident says the suspect entered the home through a broken window and was going through his belongings. The resident told our news partners at WEAR 3 that he was asleep at the time. The intruder slapped him in the face, exited the home through the front door then re entered through the window.
The suspect was transported to a local hospital where he died.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has not released further details.
File photo.