Fourth Earthquake Reported Near Florida-Alabama Line
March 14, 2019
The fourth earthquake in the North Escambia area in about a week occurred early Wednesday morning near Pollard, AL.
The USGS now says the magnitude 2.2 earthquake occurred about 1.1 miles south of Pollard, or about 5 miles northeast of Century, at 1:50 a.m. It was centered about three miles deep off Pollard Road near McBride Circle. There were no injuries or property damage reported.
(While the quake occurred very early Wednesday morning, the minor earthquake report was not issued by the USGS until Thursday night.)
A magnitude 2.3 earthquake was centered near Highway 31 and Hillview Drive about 8:26 p.m Tuesday.
A magnitude 3.1 earthquake was reported just outside Flomaton Monday afternoon. It occurred three miles north-northeast of Flomaton near Old Fannie Road and Welka Road at 1:36 p.m. The epicenter was about three miles deep.
A smaller 2.7 earthquake occurred the night of March 6 between Century and Jay. The epicenter was near the intersection of Nelsontown Road and Shell Road.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the North Escambia area sits on the Bahamas Fracture Seismic Zone (the BSZ). Several earthquakes have occurred along this zone in recent years, but most are too weak to be felt by residents. A significant earthquake is not considered likely in the area.
ECSO: Man Steals Car From Molino Restaurant Then Returns It
March 14, 2019
A man that stole a car from a Molino restaurant Wednesday morning didn’t get very far before he returned it, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Tommy George Craig, 30, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on a charge of felony grand theft of a motor vehicle.
Witnesses told deputies they watched as Craig walked around the parking lot of Jimmy’s Grill on Highway 29 and then entered a vehicle. They said he pulled the vehicle away from the front of the business and then drove back, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
“He didn’t really get very far,” said Amber Southard, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. She said the vehicle had been left unlocked with the key fob on the center console.
Craig remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning with bond set at $2,500.
Senate Bill Introduced To Rename Part Of Highway 29 For Highway Worker Killed Last Year
March 14, 2019
A bill was introduced Wednesday in the Florida Senate to rename a portion of Highway 29 near McDavid for a highway worker struck and killed by a vehicle last year.
If passed into law, the bill by Sen. Doug Broxson would designate Highway 29 between Cox Road and Sigler Road as “Maceo Perkins Parkway”.
Maceo A. Perkins, 41, was with a group of workers employed by Broad Spectrum working on Highway 29 near Siglar Road. Just after noon on April 6, 2018, he was hit by a vehicle driven by 60-year old Sharon Odom of Century. The Florida Highway Patrol said Odom’s 2006 Ford Mustang traveled off the roadway onto the west shoulder, colliding with Perkins and the workers’ unoccupied Dodge Ram truck.. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
“That was my best friend. That was everything I had. It’s like a part of me is gone,” Perkins’ wife Laquinda Perkins said.
The couple moved to Escambia County in 2017 to be near their parents. Maceo had a distinct passion for cooking and also enjoyed football and traveling. He awoke early every morning to work out, read scripture, and occasionally worked on his plan to open a local Wing Spot franchise. Everyone who knew Maceo always had wonderful things to say about his positive and upbeat character and his respectful and friendly nature, according to an Escambia County resolution.
Odom passed away at her Century home four days after the crash.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Animal Abuse Suspect Arrested, New Wanted Person Named To ‘Century Six’
March 14, 2019
After the arrest of a woman wanted for violating probation on animal cruelty charges, a new member has been named to the Century Six — a fugitive list from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that focuses on North Escambia area residents with outstanding warrants.
The newest member of the Century Six is Melissa Ann Elliot, 35. She is wanted for failure to appear for on a battery charge. She has no bond.
Amber Danielle Creighton, 28, was arrested for violation of probation, just days after being named to the Century Six and featured on NorthEscambia.com.
Creighton was convicted in October 2017 of eight counts of animal cruelty and seven counts of violating Florida’s animal cruelty contagious disease law. She was sentenced to 12 months probation and ordered not to own or care for any animals. There is now an outstanding warrant for her arrest for violating probation.
According to arrest report, animal control officers found seven adult dogs and seven puppies at her residence in the 3900 block of Highway 97 in May 2017. Records show dogs had open wounds and were suffering from scabies and “Dermanex” (sic -possible spelling error in arrest report for demodex), a highly contagious and infectious disease. Prior to being charged, Creighton had been cited multiple times and warned by Escambia County Animal Control.
Anyone with information on the Century Six is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers (850) 433-STOP.
Century Auctioning Off Several Used Vehicles
March 14, 2019
The Town of Century is auctioning off several used vehicles.
Sealed bids are being accepted at town hall before April 1. The vehicles and minimum bid amounts are:
- 1992 Crown Victoria — $800
- 2005 Chevy Silverado — $1000
- 2004 F-350 — $1200
- 1995 E-350 Club Wagon — $400
- 1985 Ford F-600 — $500
- 2005 Chevy 2500 — $3000
The vehicles can be viewed 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, call (850) 256-3208.
Smokeable Medical Pot Gets Legislative Green Light
March 14, 2019
In their first full action of the 2019 legislative session, Florida lawmakers — many of them grudgingly — ceded to a demand by Gov. Ron DeSantis and overwhelmingly approved a proposal doing away with the state’s ban on smokable medical marijuana.
DeSantis issued an ultimatum to the Legislature shortly after the Republican governor took office in January, threatening to drop the state’s appeal of a court decision that found the smoking ban ran afoul of a 2016 constitutional amendment that broadly legalized medical marijuana.
The House passed the proposal (SB 182) in a 101-11 vote Wednesday, sending the bill to the governor two days before a March 15 deadline he had set. The Senate passed the bill last week.
The Republican-controlled Legislature included the smoking ban in a 2017 law aimed at implementing the constitutional amendment, which was approved by more than 71 percent of Florida voters in 2016.
Despite DeSantis’ insistence that the ban be repealed, Rep. Ray Rodrigues, an Estero Republican who sponsored the measure Wednesday and who was instrumental in crafting the 2017 law, noted that “many of us feel like we got it right” the first time.
“I’m not going to have all of your votes today, and I understand that and I respect that. My encouragement to you is to vote your conscience, but what I would say is this: This bill is important because if we do not pass this bill, then the guardrails that we could place around smokable medical marijuana will not exist,” Rodrigues said before Wednesday afternoon’s House vote.
DeSantis conveyed his thanks on Twitter to the Legislature “for taking action on medical marijuana and upholding the will of the voters.”
In the social media post, the governor gave a shout-out to House Speaker José Oliva and Senate President Bill Galvano, as well as bill sponsors Rodrigues and Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, “for their leadership and hard work on this difficult issue.”
The measure awaiting the governor’s signature would allow patients to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for smoking every 35 days, ban smoking of medical marijuana in public places and allow terminally ill children to smoke the treatment, but only if they have a second opinion from a pediatrician.
Oliva, a Miami Lakes Republican who has made a fortune in the cigar business, had balked at doing away with the marijuana-smoking ban. Supporters of the ban have argued, in part, that smoking is hazardous to people’s health.
But after DeSantis delivered the ultimatum, the House made a series of concessions to reach an accord with the Senate, which historically has taken a less-restrictive approach toward medical marijuana.
For example, a House proposal initially would have restricted medical marijuana dispensaries to selling pre-rolled cannabis cigarettes, along with other cannabis-based products not used for smoking.
Under the compromise passed by both chambers, dispensaries can sell any form of smokable marijuana, and patients can buy devices to smoke cannabis at state-licensed medical marijuana treatment centers or other retail outlets, such as head shops.
The Senate, meanwhile, yielded to the House by agreeing to limits on how much smokable cannabis patients could purchase at one time, as well as a cap on the total amount patients could have.
The proposal, which was quickly sent Wednesday to DeSantis, also requires the state university system’s Board of Governors to designate a university to house a “Consortium for Medical Marijuana Clinical Outcomes Research” and steers $1.5 million each year to fund the research, which would be based on data submitted by doctors.
Oliva, who voted in favor of the bill, told reporters he continues to have concerns about allowing patients to smoke their medicine, which he called “a difficult subject.”
“I don’t know, and we don’t have the data — hopefully we will in the coming years — to show if there truly are benefits to consuming this medicine in this fashion. I personally don’t believe that there probably is. And there might be some detrimental effects as a result of that, which is why I had reservations then, and I still have them now,” he said Wednesday.
But Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat who once lobbied for the medical marijuana industry and who made medical cannabis the cornerstone of her election campaign last year, called the repeal “long past due.”
“Today’s action to finally allow smokable medical marijuana brings four words to the lips of people across our state: It’s about damn time,” Fried said in a statement. “I’m thankful for the House and Senate’s work to fix this situation and look forward to the governor signing this much-needed legislation into law. It’s long past due that the state of Florida honored the will of the people and allowed doctors to determine their patient’s course of treatment.”
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Northview’s Johnston Signs With Millsaps College
March 14, 2019
Northview High School’s Keegun Johnston signed Wednesday to play football with Millsaps college in Jackson, MS. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
West Florida Softball Nabs Win Over FWB; Tate Aggie Freshmen Baseball Beats Pace
March 14, 2019
SOFTBALL
West Florida 15, Fort Walton Beach 5
Even though West Florida Jags Varsity gave up three runs in the fifth inning, they still defeated Fort Walton Beach 15-5 on Wednesday. Fort Walton Beach scored its runs on a double by Phillips.
In the first inning, West Florida Jags Varsity got their offense started when MacKenzee Mcbride doubled on a 2-1 count, scoring two runs.
West Florida Jags Varsity tallied five runs in the third inning. The big inning was thanks to singles by Amanda Klemm, Makayla Kent, and Mcbride, a triple by Measia Armstrong, and by Meredith Morgan.
Morgan was credited with the victory for West Florida Jags Varsity. She went five innings, allowing four runs on three hits and striking out five.
Rockwell took the loss for Fort Walton Beach. She allowed 13 hits and 16 runs over four innings, striking out one.
West Florida Jags Varsity tallied 13 hits. MeAsia Armstrong, Makayla Kent, McKenzi Kent, and MacKenzee Mcbride all collected multiple hits for West Florida Jags Varsity. MacKenzee Mcbride, McKenzie Kent, Makayla Kent, and MeAsia Armstrong all had two hits to lead West Florida Jags Varsity.
West Florida Jags Varsity stole 17 bases during the game as five players stole more than one. Kiauna Watson led the way with four.
BASEBALL
Tate 8, Pace 3
The freshmen Tate Aggies beat Pace 8-3 Wednesday night.
Josiah Glodfelter took the win for the Aggies on the mound. In four innings, he allowed on run, four hits and had seven strikeouts. Chase Lombardo and Tucker Griffin closed the game in relief.
Eleven Aggies had hits during the game, including two from Saxon Hill. With one hit each were: Dagan Guy, Paul Whitson, Jaxson Stafford, Cameron Larocca, Glodfelter, Caleb Murph, Luke Gandy, Conner Wright, Griffin and Lombardo. Whitson and Lombardo had doubles.
Pictured: West Florida defeated Fort Walton Beach Wednesday. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Tractor In McDavid
March 13, 2019
A tractor was destroyed by fire Wednesday afternoon in McDavid.
The fire was reported about 2 p.m. in a field in the 400 block of Roach Road. There were no injuries reported.
The Century and McDavid Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Plane Makes Belly Landing At Pensacola Airport
March 13, 2019
A plane made a belly landing at the Pensacola International Airport Wednesday morning.
A BAC-167 Strikemaster that experienced a landing gear collapse on the south-north runway shortly after 11:00.
While in flight, the pilot received an unsafe landing gear indicator and notified air traffic control. Airport emergency crews got into emergency standby positions. The pilot did a fly-by so air traffic control personnel could see if the gear appeared down. The main gear did not appear down. The pilot landed the aircraft on its belly. The pilot, who was the only passenger, was not injured.
Airport emergency crews are on scene and will be working with the aircraft owner to have the aircraft removed from the runway. The FAA’s Flight Standards District Office in Birmingham has been notified as part of standard protocol for aircraft incidents.