Forest Service: Cool, Dry Weather Increases Wildfire Risk
March 20, 2019
Our recent cool, dry weather has led to an increased wildfire risk.
As northwest Florida is starting to reach the peak of its year-round wildfire season, officials with the Florida Forest Service are asking residents to be careful if they choose to burn yard debris.
“This cold front has brought cooler temperatures and lower humidity into the area,” said David Smith, Operations Administrator for the Blackwater Forestry Center. “That combination can dry vegetation out very quickly and allow fire to spread despite the fact we have had rain recently.”
There are no burn bans in effect in our area but residents must still follow certain requirements: Burning piles of yard debris less than 8 feet in diameter is allowed if it is 25 feet from and wooded area or combustible structure, 25 feet from your house, 50 feet from a paved public road and 150 feet from other occupied dwellings. (See graphic at page bottom.)
Piles greater than eight feet require a burn authorization from the Florida Forest Service and must meet more stringent standards. For more information about authorizations, call Blackwater Forestry Center headquarters at (850) 957-5701.
Pictured: A wildfire last May on Highway 29 in McDavid just south of Pine Barren Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Beautiful First Day Of Spring
March 20, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast on the first day of spring:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 46. West wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 69. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 43. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 71. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 45. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 74. North wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. South wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 75.
Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 67.
Study: Escambia County Near Bottom Of The State In Health Outcomes
March 20, 2019
A list of health rankings published Tuesday ranks Escambia County near the bottom of state.
Escambia County ranked number 49 while Santa Rosa County came in at number seven out of Florida’s 67 counties. Escambia County moved up in the survey from number 53 last year.
The counties are ranked using 35 factors like access to health care and exercise, socioeconomic conditions, poverty and crime levels and health factors like the availability of doctors, the environment smoking and drinking.
The 2019 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps was released by the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County responded by saying the rankings are a snapshot of the health of counties across the country, and they emphasize that health is not a singular effort but a combined work in progress across all community partners. The department works in collaboration with local governments, non-profit organizations, health care facilities, business groups, schools, faith-based organizations and many other stakeholders to improve the health of Escambia County residents.
“The upward trend in the overall rankings for Escambia County reflects the efforts of many community partners and stakeholders,” said Dr. John Lanza, director and health officer for the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County. “Recognizing that we always have opportunities to continue to make Escambia County a healthier place to live, work, learn, and play, we will apply the information provided by the rankings as we work with these partners to begin a new Community Health Improvement Plan cycle in Escambia County, Florida.”
The Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) addresses specific opportunities for improved health that have been identified by the community. The current CHIP, which ends later this year, has focused on reducing infant mortality and tobacco use, as well as increasing the number of residents at a healthy weight. In January 2019 community stakeholders, led by the LiveWell Partnership for a Healthy Community, published a new Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). The 2019 CHNA identified the health improvement priorities for Escambia County’s new CHIP cycle as reducing and preventing the incidence of diabetes, improving infant and child health, and improving mental health
Three Indicted For Valentine’s Day Murder
March 20, 2019
Three people have been indicted for a Valentine’s Day murder in Escambia County.
Leroy Benjamin, Jr., Cordarin Simmons, and Jesse Square are charged with first degree felony murder for the death of Willie Wilson, Jr.
Wilson was found severely beaten at his home on Spink Lane off North 8th Avenue. He later died from his injuries.
Benjamin will have an arraignment hearing this week. Simmons and Square were taken into custody in Ohio and are awaiting extradition.
Tate Blanks Washington (OK) In Aggie Classic; Pine Forest Beats PHS
March 20, 2019
Tate 7, Washington (OK) 0
On day two of the Aggie Classic, Tate defeated Washington (OK) 7-0 Tuesday night.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Three Aggie pitchers combined to throw the shutout. Jace Dunsford earned the win in four and a third innings, allowing no runs on two hits and striking out seven. Brantley Culbertson and Biggs entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief.
Jadon Fryman led the Aggies at bat going 3-3. Mason Land, Darrien McDowell, Chase Tolbert and Trevor Norton also had hits for Tate.
The Aggies had nine stolen bases in the game, includingthree from Raymond Lafleur and Land.
Tate will host Nobles (OK) on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Pine Forest 11, Pensacola High 1
Pine Forest defeated Pensacola High Tuesday night.
Jared Riddell got the win for Pine Forest. He allowed four hits and one run over five innings, striking out seven and walking zero.
Tekoah Roby hit a 3-run homer in the fifth inning.
Pine Forest collected 11 hits.
Chase Gullatt, Tekoah Roby, Hunter Smith, and Christian Munoz each racked up multiple hits for Pine Forest.
Pictured: Tate tops Washington of Oklahoma Tuesday night in the Aggie Classic. Photos by Crystal Tolbert for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Friday Is Deadline To Apply For Escambia Youth Employment Program Jobs
March 20, 2019
Time is running out to apply for the Escambia County Youth Employment Program.
Escambia County is seeking youth ages 16-24 who are interested in an opportunity to get paid work experience this summer. Applications are due Friday, March 22 by 3 p.m.
Qualified youth who are accepted into ECYEP will be able to work up to 30 hours a week at $8.46 per hour, with positions available in various county departments along with the Escambia County School District, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector’s Office and Supervisor of Elections Office. Participants will also receive job readiness training before job placement as well as post-employment briefings.
Last summer, 76 youth participated in the program, working in county departments including Public Works, Public Safety, Escambia County Area Transit, West Florida Public Libraries and more.
Limited positions are available. Requirements for the program are as follows:
- Must be age 16-24
- Must live in Escambia County, Florida
Click here to download an application. Applications can also be picked up during normal business hours at 221 S. Palafox Place, 4th floor reception desk. Incomplete application packets will not be accepted.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia To Receive $16 Million In Bay Restoration Funds
March 20, 2019
The Florida Trustee Implementation Group approved its Final Restoration Plan 1, which selects 23 projects at a total estimated cost of $61 million. The final plan is consistent with the Trustees’ Programmatic Restoration Plan and selects projects for restoring natural resources and services injured or lost in Florida as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. With the approval of this plan, 10 projects totaling more than $16 million will benefit water quality and recreation in Pensacola Bay and Perdido Bay.
The projects include water quality improvements and park amenities for Carpenter Creek, expansion of Pensacola Beach reclaimed wastewater system, nutrient reduction in Pensacola and Perdido Bays, Gulf Islands National Seashore beach and dune habitat protection and invasive plant removal, and new camping sites along the Perdido River and Bay Paddle Trail.
These projects will help restore and benefit wetlands, coastal and nearshore habitats on federally managed lands; improve water quality and hydrology by reducing sources of pollution and restoring more natural flows to increase the overall health and productivity of these ecosystems; and enhance the public’s access to the surrounding natural resources while increasing recreational opportunities.
Alabama Man Claims $179K Lottery Prize For Davisville Ticket
March 20, 2019
An Alabama man has claimed the her prize for a winning Fantasy 5 ticket from Sunday.
The Florida Lottery says the March 17 ticket worth $179,443.81 was sold to Gregory A. Monk of Wilmer, AL, who purchased it at the State Line Gift Shop at 11208 Highway 97 in Davisville.
The winning numbers were 4-6-10-15-36.
Fire Heavily Damages Flomaton Home; Puppy Saved From Blaze
March 19, 2019
Fire heavily damaged a brick home on Old Foshee Road north of Flomaton Tuesday afternoon.
Heavy flames were coming from the garage area of the home when firefighters arrived shortly after 3 p.m.
There were no injuries reported and no word on the cause of the fire. Firefighters were able to save a puppy from the blaze.
The Flomaton, Friendship, Pineview, Barnett and McCall fire departments from Alabama, the Century Station of Escambia (FL) Fire Rescue and Medstar ambulance from Flomaton responded to the fire.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Kidnapping, Sexual Assault Suspect Named
March 19, 2019
UPDATE: A man that allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted a woman overnight is behind bars.
Joshua James Edwards, age 37 of Pensacola, was charged with multiple crimes including two counts of carjacking, sexual battery, armed kidnapping, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.. According to the State Attorney’s Office, he faces up to life in prison if convicted.
Edwards has an extensive criminal history and was released from prison late last year after serving about 3.5 years for grand theft, burglary, grand theft of a motor vehicle, theft, and trafficking in stolen property on a Santa Rosa County conviction, according to Florida Department of Corrections records. He was identified by Sheriff David Morgan as a member of the Aryan Brotherhood gang.
Edwards was taken into custody in a wooded area behind a Verizon store on Sorrento Road, near the Walmart on Blue Angel Parkway. As deputies chased Edwards out of the woods, he was taken into custody by Escambia County Chief Deputy Chip Simmons and Maj. Andrew Hobbs, according to Morgan.
The ECSO dive team was called into search a body of water in the woods where a weapon may have been tossed.
Edwards was reportedly spotted at the Walmart on Blue Angel Parkway earlier Tuesday morning, after releasing the woman.
The woman was abducted and her car was stolen about 11 p.m. Monday at Circle K at the intersection of New Warrington Road and Jackson Street. Edwards was armed with a handgun, according to Simmons.
Simmons said the woman was released just before 8 a.m. Tuesday at Bill Dickson Park off Gulf Beach Highway. A man matching the suspect’s description was dropped off at Walmart on Blue Angel Parkway just after 8 a.m. Deputies arrived and searched the store. During the investigation, they learned the man was seen on video leaving the store at 8:37 a.m.
Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Pictured above and below: An alleged kidnapping and sexual assault suspect at the Blue Angel Parkway Walmart Tuesday morning. Pictured bottom: Escambia County Chief Deputy Chip Simmons holds a press conference outside the store.
