Two Monday Morning Structure Fires Are Second And Third ‘Red Bulbs’ On Safety Wreath
December 10, 2018
Two structure fires that occurred on Monday, Dec. 10 represent the second and third red bulbs on the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety wreath.
The first came after the first red bulb fire that destroyed a mobile home in Century. [Read more...]
Escambia County Emergency Communications received a call at 5:41 a.m. reporting a structure fire in the 700 block of North 77th Avenue. Upon arriving on scene, crews found a working fire in the carport that had extended to the house and attic of the single-family residence. The fire was brought under control at approximately 6:50 a.m. One resident was transported by Escambia County EMS to West Florida Hospital. The home did not have working smoke detectors, and it was declared a total loss. Three adults were displaced and are being assisted by the American Red Cross. The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.
The second call came in at approximately 5:52 a.m. reporting a multi-residential structure fire in the 700 block of Tumbleweed Trail. Crews arrived on scene to find smoke coming from the ground floor of the two-story apartment building. Escambia County Fire Rescue called the fire under control at 6:12 a.m., with fire damage in the kitchen and smoke damage throughout the apartment where the fire occurred. Two adults and two children were displaced and are being assisted by the American Red Cross. No injuries were reported. The apartment where the fire started did not have a working smoke detector.
If your home doesn’t have a working smoke detector, please call Escambia County Fire Rescue at 850-595-HERO (4376) or 850-436-5200 for city of Pensacola residents.
During the month-long Keep the Wreath Green campaign, five-foot wreaths are on display at 18 county fire stations and five city fire stations, with wreaths were placed outside Escambia County’s Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building downtown, the Escambia County Public Safety Building, Pensacola City Hall and Cordova Mall near the food court entrance. Each time firefighters respond to a residential fire with damage, a green light bulb is replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by fires in residential home.
Pictured: A mobile home was destroyed by fire early Saturday morning in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Toyz For Kidz Bike Ride Provides For Needy Kids (With Photo Gallery)
December 10, 2018
Santa had some very special helpers Saturday as the LA Bikers rolled through Bratt, Flomaton and Atmore making sure that dozens of needy kids had presents for Christmas this year.
It was the 17th annual Toyz For Kidz Ride organized by the LA Bikers.
Dozens of children received new bicycles and helmets, clothes, shoes and lots of toys. Dozens of bikers took part in the event with stops at Bratt Elementary, Flomaton and the Atmore City Hall. The bikers also made large donation to the Atmore Fire Department’s toy drive.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: Children received Christmas gifts from Santa Claus Saturday morning at Bratt Elementary School thanks to the LA Bikers Toyz For Kidz Ride. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Commission Changes Meeting Times, Public Forum Policy
December 10, 2018
The Escambia County Commission is making changes to their meeting schedule and public forum.
The commission voted to make the changes to allow county staff more time to devote to their regular job duties rather than spending hours in meetings, and “better meet their duty to residents of offering open, efficient and accessible commission meetings,” according to a county statement.
The commission changes include
- The elimination of one agenda review session.
- Moving one regular meeting a month to the morning to accommodate residents who do not wish or are unable to attend night meetings. One meeting a month will still be held in the evening.
- During the public forum, citizens will have three minutes to address the board, with additional time for questions and input for commissioners. Minutes can no longer be donated to another person to extend their time.
For a 2019 meeting schedule, click here.
The board also chose to change the chairmanship appointment order and to revert to the commission policy of appointment order in the future. Under this process, the vice chairman is now District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry, with District 3 Commissioner Lumon May serving as chairman.
Santa Claus Is Coming To A Library Near You
December 10, 2018
Santa Claus will be visiting libraries across Escambia County. He will read a story and hear Christmas wishes.
- Tuesday, Dec. 11, 6 p.m. – Molino Branch Library
- Wednesday, Dec. 12, 10:30 a.m. – Pensacola Library
- Thursday, Dec. 13, 10:30 a.m. – Tryon Branch Library
- Thursday, Dec. 13, 5:30 p.m. – Century Branch Library
- Tuesday, Dec. 18, 10:30 a.m. – Southwest Branch Library
- Thursday, Dec. 20, 6 p.m. – Southwest Branch Library
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Volleyball’s Talbert Signs With University Of Texas
December 10, 2018
In His Own Words: Flomaton Football Coach Doug Vickery On 3A Championship
December 10, 2018
Flomaton High School football coach Doug Vickery, in his own words, on the Hurricanes’ historic 3A State Championship:
“Words can’t express how happy I am for these boys. I get a little emotional talking about it because we spent because we spend so much time, blood, sweat and tears with these guys. A lot of hard work goes into this.’
God’s in control. He has has His hand on this team the whole year. He’s blessed us. We’ve had a few ups and downs. In the middle the season we had a couple of valleys. The guys never quit, just keep battling back.”
“We lost one of of our cheerleaders the last week of the season. We lost that game.”
“We’ve had a lot of emotion go into this. I told them when we beat Thomasville 43-42 — it was an unbelievable game — I told them we will be in Auburn. Each week I told them we would be in Auburn, and they believed it. We’ve been in Auburn, and we won it.
“Wow, you can’t put words on it to 0 express how I am and proud for the community and fans.”
“Especially the players. I have been here 13 years. There have been a lot of people that said you can’t win a state championship in Flomaton. Matter of fact when I went there, somebody said I didn’t need to go there and take the job. And our principal Scott Hammond took a chance on me. Hopefully we’ve made him happy today…He seemed pretty happy.”
“There’s even been people in out community say you could’t win a state championship in Flomaton. I am I just so proud for the people that believed in us, proud for these boys.”
For game details and a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: Flomaton Hurricane football coach Doug Vickery. Photo for NorthEscambia.com by Trent Penny/Anniston Star, click to enlarge.
This Week’s Traffic Delays
December 10, 2018
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to U.S. 90 (Nine Mile Road) – The following traffic impacts will occur Sunday, Dec. 9 through Saturday, Dec. 15. Work requiring lane restrictions will take place from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass: Alternating traffic shifts will direct all traffic onto the westbound or eastbound lanes as crews continue construction of the new northbound bridge deck. Nine Mile Road lane restrictions are Sunday through Friday.
- U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road: Drainage and paving operations continue. Drivers can expect alternating lane closures Monday through Saturday.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Construction activities continue. Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 9 through Sunday, Dec. 16.
- U.S. 98 (Lillian Highway) Resurfacing from the Perdido Bay Bridge to Dog Track Road – Paving operations continue from the Perdido Bay Bridge to Dog Track Road. Lane closures will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 9 through Sunday, Dec. 16.
- · U.S. 98 (East Chase Street) Resurfacing from North Palafox Street to Bayfront Parkway – There will be paving operations from Palafox Street to the I-110 ramps from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday, Dec. 10 through Sunday, Dec. 16.
- · Crary Road Bridge Replacement - Crary Road will be temporarily closed between Tedder Road and Byrneville Road as crews construct a bridge culvert. Motorists will be detoured via County Road (C.R.) 4 and Byrneville Road.
- · Bratt Road Bridge Replacement over Canoe Creek - Bratt Road will continue to be closed near Canoe Creek during construction. Drivers on Bratt Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to Pine Barren Road and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will be detoured east on Bratt Road.
- · S.R. 727 (Fairfield Drive) Drainage Improvements from south of Usher Circle to north of Hestia Place- The south entrance to Usher Circle from Fairfield Drive will be closed to traffic from Tuesday. Dec. 11 through Friday, Dec. 14 as crews install pipe across the roadway. Those seeking access to Usher Circle may utilize the north entrance off Fairfield Drive.
Santa Rosa County:
- · U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Construction activities continue. Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 9 through Sunday, Dec. 16.
- I-10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/Exit 22) – The following construction related traffic impacts are planned for Interstate 10 and Avalon Boulevard the week of Sunday, Dec. 9 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.:
- Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange from Monday through Thursday.
- Alternating lane closures on I-10, from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of S.R. 281, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday as crews work to widen the roadway.
- Drivers will encounter new traffic pattern(s) on I-10 east and westbound as crews reconstruct the inside and outside shoulders. This work will continue through spring 2019.
- S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB boundary to C.R. 184 (Hickory Hammock Road) –Traffic between Hickory Hammock Road and the Eglin AFB boundary will continue to be restricted to loads less than 11-feet wide. The restriction will be in place until the project is completed.
- S.R. 4 over East Relief and Wilson’s Branch Bridge Maintenance – Drivers will encounter alternating, east and westbound lane restrictions over Wilson’s Branch and East Relief, about three miles east of U.S. 29, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10 through Thursday, Dec. 13 as crews perform routine bridge maintenance activities.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Changes On The Horizon For Florida’s Medical Marijuana Industry
December 10, 2018
The advent of a new administration with Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis at the helm could bring a sharp turnaround in how Florida officials approach the state’s highly regulated medical marijuana industry.
And one of the first reversals might come on the legal front.
DeSantis, a Republican who will take office on Jan. 8, is unwilling to continue some of the court battles now being waged by outgoing Gov. Rick Scott’s administration, according to Lt. Gov.-elect Jeanette Nuñez.
When asked where the DeSantis administration stands on the caps on medical marijuana licenses imposed by the state Legislature and whether the new governor plans to continue the appeals launched by Scott, Nuñez told The News Service of Florida Wednesday that DeSantis “has said he’s not interested in continuing that fight.”
“I think he has a different perspective than Gov. Scott. I think he wants the will of the voters to be implemented,” Nuñez, a former state representative from Miami, said.
Nuñez was referring to the 2016 constitutional amendment, approved by 71.3 percent of Florida voters, broadly legalizing medical marijuana.
A Tallahassee judge recently ruled that a 2017 law, aimed at implementing the amendment, was unconstitutional. Earlier this year, Leon County Circuit Judge Charles Dodson ordered state health officials to begin registering new medical-marijuana operators after deciding the law, passed during a special legislative session last year, failed to properly carry out the amendment.
The circuit judge found fault with parts of the law that, among other things, capped the number of marijuana licenses and created a “vertical integration” system that requires marijuana operators to grow, and process cannabis and distribute related products. Already-licensed operators worried that the ruling could create uncertainty in the fast-growing industry — while also allowing more companies to receive licenses.
Dodson’s decision came in a challenge filed by Tampa-based Florigrown LLC, which was denied a license by the state and is owned in part by strip-club owner Joe Redner.
Scott’s administration quickly appealed the ruling, and the judge’s order regarding the new licenses is on hold.
The Florigrown case is just one of a number of marijuana-related legal challenges Scott’s administration is appealing. The most high-profile lawsuit is a challenge to the state’s ban on smoking medical marijuana. The plaintiffs in the case include John Morgan, the Orlando trial lawyer who largely bankrolled the 2016 amendment, known as Amendment 2.
It was unclear immediately which legal fights the DeSantis administration might abandon after the former congressman and Nuñez take office on Jan. 8.
“The governor-elect is considering a variety of options on this matter, along with a number of other important issues, and will be discussing these further as we move forward with our transition and administration,” DeSantis transition spokesman Dave Vasquez said in an email when asked to clarify which litigation Nuñez was referring to.
But, like many others, DeSantis has expressed frustration with delays in the roll-out of the amendment. Nuñez reiterated that frustration this week.
“In our discussions, in our involvement in transition, I think he has noted that, sort of the slow pace is something that could potentially be a problem. He wants to make sure that that’s addressed. But I know publicly he has stated he is not interested in continuing the lawsuit,” she said.
One of DeSantis’ top transition advisors is U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Panhandle Republican who was a fierce supporter of medical marijuana when he was in the state House and has continued his advocacy following his election to Congress in 2016.
DeSantis will “faithfully execute the will of the people on medical marijuana,” Gaetz said in a text Friday morning.
“As the author of Florida’s first medical marijuana laws, I’m comforted to know conditions will improve for patients under a governor fully committed to this objective. The governor-elect and I have discussed a variety of strategies. I suspect specifics will be refined in consultation with the health care advisory committee to the transition and Gov.-elect Desantis’s selections for surgeon general and general counsel,” Gaetz said.
When asked whether DeSantis plans to drop the appeal in the Florigrown case, Gaetz said the issue is “one of the specifics that I’m sure our new governor will take under advisement.”
According to Nuñez, who also said she couldn’t answer specific questions related to the licensing caps or the smoking ban, DeSantis believes most issues could be fixed by the Legislature, which begins its 2019 session on March 5.
The new administration — which, under the amendment, is responsible for implementation of the amendment and oversight of the marijuana industry — will play a major role, Nuñez indicated.
“Certainly, whoever is heading up that agency has a responsibility to implement. I think he views whoever heads up that agency, whoever is in charge of that particular area, has a responsibility to do so efficiently and effectively without sort of delaying the process, whether it’s how quickly you can get your ID cards, to ensuring that people have access,” she said.
The Office of Compassionate Use has come under harsh criticism, publicly and privately, by lawmakers, patients and would-be marijuana operators, who accuse the agency, a division of the Department of Health, of dragging its feet to craft regulations related to the marijuana industry.
At one point, patients waited for months before receiving state-issued identification cards showing they were eligible for the marijuana treatment. The approval is required for patients to purchase marijuana products.
Agriculture Commissioner-elect Nikki Fried, a Democrat who was once a medical-marijuana lobbyist, called Nuñez’s comments “encouraging” and said she looks forward to speaking with DeSantis “about how we can correctly implement the Constitution as approved by 71 percent of Floridians.”
Fried, a lawyer, played a role in the crafting of the state’s marijuana laws.
“If DeSantis is serious about moving patient access forward, I welcome that wholeheartedly and would love to work with him in any way to get sick and suffering residents of our state the medicine they need,” she said in a statement.
The many investors and prospective operators seeking entry into Florida’s restricted medical marijuana industry also are likely to welcome a shift in state officials’ attitude toward pot.
“Actions speak louder than words but what they’re saying so far seems to indicate that they’re willing to move away from the obstructionist position of the Scott administration and move toward fulfilling the will of more than 71 percent of Floridians and hopefully doing the right thing to implement the amendment,” Ben Pollara, who is a plaintiff in the smoking-ban lawsuit, told the News Service. Pollara was a senior adviser to Fried’s campaign and is co-chairman of her inaugural committee.
But operators already doing business in the state, where licenses have sold for upwards of $70 million, may be more cautious.
“I believe change is coming. This is an evolving industry, and we look forward to working with the Legislature and the new administration,” said Ron Watson, a lobbyist who represents operators currently doing business in the state and others who want to gain entry.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Woman’s Body Found In Escambia River
December 9, 2018
The body of a female was found Sunday on the Escambia River.
The body was found in Santa Rosa County about a mile south of the Terrell’s Landing boat ramp off Oil Plant Road, upriver from Fischer Landing in Century.
Rich Aloy, spokesperson for the Santa Rosa County Sherrif’s Office, said further details will be released as the investigation progresses. Her identity is not yet known.
More information will be posted when it becomes available.
Fire Chief Struck On I-10 By Vehicle Traveling In Reverse
December 9, 2018
An Escambia County Fire Rescue battalion chief’s vehicle was struck by a vehicle traveling in reverse on I-10 about 9:15 Saturday night.
The driver was traveling eastbound in reverse on I-10 westbound near Highway 29 as the fire chief approached.
The battalion chief was not injured, and the driver was not seriously injured.
The crash remained under investigation late Saturday night by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details were not yet released.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
