Driver Nowhere To Be Found After Morning Crash
July 2, 2019
A driver was nowhere to be found following a Tuesday morning crash.
A Kia Forte left Highway 95A near Gateway Lane, struck a culvert and became airborne before coming to rest against a utility pole. The driver was not on scene when first responders arrived.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
New County Admin Gilley Rolls Out 100 Day Plan, Says The County Is Not In A ‘Hot Mess’
July 2, 2019
New Escambia County Administrator Janet Gilley began her first day on the job bright at early Monday with a 6 a.m. tour of the Escambia County road camp and time with employees.
By 9 a.m. she was downtown appearing before her five bosses – the elected members of the Escambia County Commission — unveiling her 100 day plan and
The plan will focus attention on the people, policy, process and plan for Escambia County. She said that plan that may not include significant changes in county government during those 100 days she works on a complete and through analysis of the county and the culture of the county, Gilley said she is there to “to listen, learn and lead as we move forward”.
Gilley began her time in front of commissioners Monday morning by telling them why she wanted the job, and her reaction to the many that have asked her why should we step into Escambia County government at this time. And she discussed the state of Escambia County is truly a “hot mess”.
“There appears to be a perception that Escambia County is an absolute hot mess,” Gilley said. “What I would say is this. I live on a small farm in Molino ,and a couple of weeks ago I was walking to my mailbox and my neighbor comes to the fence. And he says ‘you know, I wake up every morning thankful that I live in this particular community; I love it.’ And I said yeah, I love it too. I love this community; I love this place. This is my place.”
“So I felt like my best contribution would to be take a position like this, and to give back to my community. And what I would say is I am selfishly taking this job for me and other people that absolutely love this town.”
“I am not completely convinced that it is as much of a hot mess as everybody thinks it is,” Gilley said.
She comes to Escambia County in the wake of multiple high level resignations, and allegations and investigations into Escambia County EMS.
Gilley vowed to give her best to each day to serve the citizens of Escambia County, while remaining open, transparent, and working to mentor and build talent.
She said there will be no gossip or drama in Escambia County.
“I will not tolerate bullying and will try to foster an environment that is free of fear,” she said. “I will be taking responsibility for my work and my actions, including the times that I make those mistakes.”
“If we truly want to make a difference, we must not listen to the critics; we must move forward,” Gilley said.
Gilley will be paid $185,000 per year, plus benefits and a $500 car allowance per month. She is the permanent replacement for Jack Brown, who left last year to be with his wife as she battles a health problem. When Brown was hired in 2014, his starting salary was set at $150,000
Gilley has held the position of vice president of External Affairs at the University of West Florida for 10 years. She served one year as the national policy director for the Foundation for Excellence in Education, one year as deputy chief of staff for the Florida House of Representatives and served as policy director and deputy policy director for year in the Executive Office of the Governor in Florida. She served as an Escambia County commissioner from 2002-2004.
Escambia Raises School Bus Driver Starting Salary, Now Paying For Training
July 2, 2019
The Escambia County School District has raised the starting salary for bus drivers, and they are now paying for training.
The new hourly rate of pay begins at $12.16 per hour, and driver trainees will now be paid for the hours they dedicate to driver training beginning with the first day of class.
“To become a School Bus Operator (SBO) you will need to plan on 3-4 weeks for the training and placement, so we are encouraging those interested in driving this school year to come see us now to get the application started,” said Steve Harrell, ECSD’s director of Transportation. “We are here to help them take care of all of the requirements involved, including helping applicants prepare for the test required to obtain a CDL license from the DMV. Our process includes classroom training and on-the-road driver training.”
The district is accepting full time (36 – 40 hours per week) and substitute drivers for part-time employment. Their goal is to be fully staffed by the first day of school on August 12.
For more details, click here.
DeSantis Appointments Committees That Nominate Florida’s Judges
July 2, 2019
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday announced 66 appointments and reappointments to Florida’s Judicial Nominating Commissions across the state.
The nomations included three people to the First District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission:
- Edward P. Fleming, of Pensacola, is a partner with McDonald Fleming. He received his bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University and his law degree from the University of Georgia. Fleming is reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2023.
- Christine D. Graves, of Tallahassee, is the managing shareholder of the Carlton Fields’ Tallahassee office. She received her bachelor’s degree and law degree from Florida State University. Graves is reappointed from a list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar for a term ending July 1, 2023.
- Adam B. Brandon, of Jacksonville, is an attorney at Rogers Towers. He received his bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College and his law degree from the University of Notre Dame. Brandon is appointed for a term ending July 1, 2023.
Cottage Hill Boil Water Notice Lifted
July 2, 2019
A boil water notice that was in effect for part of Cottage Hill has been lifted after tests show the water is safe to drink.
Cottage Hill Water Works issued the precautionary notice last week following a water line break on Williams Ditch Road.
Pictured: Water main repairs last Thursday afternoon on Williams Ditch Road near the Baptist and United Methodist churches. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
July 2, 2019
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending June 13 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Allgood was working fisheries enforcement and found one individual in possession of two red snapper during the closed season and another individual in possession of two undersized pompano. Both individuals were cited for the violations.
Officers Clark, Long and Lugg teamed up to work the opening day of red snapper season. They documented several violations including undersized red snapper and greater amberjack. Appropriate citations were issued for the fisheries violations. They also encountered one subject with a felony warrant out of Georgia. He was arrested and transported to the Escambia County Jail.
While checking fishing activity on the Bob Sikes Bridge, Officers McHenry and Pettey found two individuals in possession of two oversized red drum. The subjects were attempting to hide the fish behind a trash can. Both individuals were cited for the violations.
Officer Allgood was driving west on Interstate 10 when he saw a vehicle swerving across the center lane and off the edge of the road. He conducted a traffic stop and spoke to the driver. Officer Allgood saw signs of impairment and requested the driver complete standardized field sobriety tasks. The driver was arrested for DUI.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Ramos spent several days inspecting blue crab traps for compliance with the Blue Crab Effort Management Program. Nearly 50 traps were checked for compliance and several were not tagged as required by law. Officer Ramos contacted the responsible person and issued him a citation for the violation as well as several warnings related to his traps.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Eight Foot Alligator Captured Near Highway 4 In Bratt
July 1, 2019
An 8-foot alligator was captured in a stand of trees just feet off Highway 4 in Bratt late Sunday afternoon.
The gator was captured by Scott Porter, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) contracted nuisance alligator trapper. Estimated to be about 10 years old, the alligator was about 600 feet from a swampy area. He was captured less than 2,000 feet from several public locations such as the Travis Nelson Park, the First Baptist Church of Bratt and Bratt Elementary School.
Our NorthEscambia.com cameras were there beside Porter as he used snare pole to removed the gator from the wooded area. It was then loaded into the back of his truck with the help of a couple of Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies and bystanders.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The alligator was relocated to a more appropriate home off Highway 97 on Pilgrim Trail in Molino.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos and video, click to enlarge.
.
Florida’s Tougher Texting And Driving Law Is Now In Effect
July 1, 2019
Florida’s new texting and driving law is now into effect.
The bill changed current enforcement of the ban from a secondary offense to a primary offense – enabling law enforcement officers to stop a vehicle solely for texting while driving. Drivers are also prohibited from using their handheld device while driving in active construction and school zones.
Went into effect at 12 a.m.t July 1, but only warnings will be issued until January 1. The first violation of the ban is a non-moving violation, carrying a $30 base fine plus court costs and fees. A second or subsequent violation committed within five years is a moving violation, carrying a $60 base fine plus court costs and fees.
Florida became the 45th state to enact a primary enforcement text messaging ban for all drivers.
“Throughout our state, we’ve seen far too many accidents where passengers are killed or severely injured as a result of distracted drivers,” said Gov. Ron DeSantis. “This bill gives law enforcement the ability to better enforce distractions behind the wheel. We cannot prevent all accidents on our roadways, but it is our hope that by taking action to address distractions today, we might be able to prevent a tragedy tomorrow.”
Gulf Power’s Surcharge Goes In Effect Today To Pay For Hurricane Michael Restoration
July 1, 2019
Gulf Power’s storm charge to pay for Hurricane Michael restoration goes into effect today, July 1.
The surcharge is $8 a month for a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours a month of electricity, which the company said would still make the average customer’s bill lower than January 2018. Commercial and industrial customers will see bills increase by 3 to 8 percent depending on their rate plan.
The increase will continue for five years.
“Hurricane Michael was the most destructive hurricane this region has ever seen, causing devastation that many in northwest Florida continue to recover from. We understand that restoring power following a major storm is a critical first step for the communities and customers that we serve,” said Marlene Santos, Gulf Power president, said in May when the Florida Public Service Commission improved the charge.
Gulf Power maintains a storm-recovery reserve to help offset expenses incurred after damages from storms like Hurricane Michael. For any expenses not covered by the storm-recovery reserve, Gulf Power must make a request before the FPSC.
When restoring power and hope to storm-devastated communities like those seen in the wake of Hurricane Michael, the energy provider incurs all of the upfront costs of power restoration and rebuilding, including out-of-town crews, plus their housing, meals and transportation, security and more. Costs also include fuel for trucks, tree trimming, poles, transformers and power lines and many other materials.
Gulf Power crews continue to reconnect customers as they have their homes and businesses repaired and work to return the company’s smart grid back to pre-storm reliability.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Schedule: Area Fireworks Shows, Other Fun Events
July 1, 2019
Here’s a guide to public Fourth of July fireworks shows and events across the North Escambia area. Note that the Flomaton-Century show is on Wednesday, and Jay will split days with activities on Thursday and fireworks on Friday. The other shows and events listed are Thursday, July 4.
JULY 3
Flomaton/Century
The annual Flomaton-Century Fireworks show is July 3 at 9 p.m. at Flomaton’s Hurricane Park. Tip: Bring a lawn chair or blanket.
JULY 4
Jay
The Celebrate Freedom 5K is at 8 a.m. at Bray-Hendricks Park on Booker Lane; register beginning at 6:30 a.m. A youth kickball tournament follows in the park at 10 a.m. Vendors, live music, water slide, contests and games on Commerce Street beginning at 10 a.m. (Note: Jay’s fireworks show is Friday, July 5 in Bray-Hendricks Park.)
Pensacola
Sertoma 4th of July Celebration activities take place in Seville Square from 11 a.m to 6 p.m. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. over Pensacola Bay, synchronized to music broadcast on CatCountry 98.7. Best view: Along Bayfront Parkway.
Symphony Sparks and Stars featuring the Pensacola Symphony in the Community Maritime Park amphitheater beginning at 7:30 p.m. Fabulous patriotic and pops classics followed by a view of the Sertoma fireworks show at 9 p.m. Free, family friendly event.
Pensacola Beach
Pensacola Beach Fireworks on the sound side of the island at 8:30 p.m.
Milton
Riverfest 4th of July Celebration on the Milton Riverwalk, Willing Street. Activities begin at 10 a.m. and end with fireworks at dark over the Blackwater River.
East Brewton
East Brewton will have entertainment from 5-9:30 p.m. The annual Murder Creek duck race is at 6 p.m. Fireworks begin about 9:30 p.m.
Atmore
Fireworks at Wind Creek Casino at 9 p.m.
JULY 5
Jay
Fireworks over Bray-Hendricks Park on Booker Street at 9 p.m. (Note: Other Fourth of July festivities are on Thursday, July 4.)