Escambia (FL) Schools Back In Session On Wednesday
September 4, 2018
Tropical Storm Gordon is expected to move rapidly through our area this evening. Winds will decrease through the night making it safe for buses to operate on Wednesday morning.
BOCC Declines State Of Emergency, Cancels Meeting; Century Cancels Workshop
September 4, 2018
UPDATE: The Escambia County Board of County Commission First Public Hearing for Consideration of Tentative Budget for Fiscal Year 2018/2019 scheduled for today, Sept. 4 at 5:31 p.m. has been rescheduled due to Tropical Storm Gordon. The meeting will now be held Monday, Sept. 10 at 5:01 p.m. in the board chambers of the Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, found on the first floor of 221 Palafox Place.
The Escambia County Commission declined to declare a state of emergency Thursday.
The BOCC held an emergency meeting to discuss preparation measures for Tropical Storm Gordon. During the meeting, commissioners decided to go forward with a regularly scheduled commission meeting at 5:30 p.m.
The Town of Century canceled a budget workshop planned for this afternoon and announced that town hall would close at noon.
Baby Uninjured In Car Seat, Mom Airlifted After Crash With 18-Wheeler
September 4, 2018
A car seat is being credited with saving a baby in a Monday night crash with an 18-wheeler that seriously injured the baby’s mother.
The accident involved a Subaru Forester and and an 18-wheeler shortly after 9 p.m. at Highway 113 and Highway 31 in Flomaton. The Forester collided with the side of the big rig.
The baby’s mother was the restrained front seat passenger. She was airlifted by Shandscair helicopter to a Pensacola hospital. The baby’s father, the driver of the vehicle, suffered only minor injuries from a seat belt.
First responders said the baby was restrained in a car seat and was not injured.
The crash remains under investigation.
The Flomaton Fire Department, Flomaton Police Department, Escambia County (FL) EMS, Medstar Ambulance and the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office responded to the crash.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FWC Hunter Safety Courses Offered In Molino, Cantonment
September 4, 2018
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering free hunter safety courses in Molino and Cantonment:
Online completion courses will be held as follows:
Classes will also be held
- September 5 (6 to 10 p.m.) & September 8 (7 to 10 a.m. )
- Molino Community Center
- 6450 Highway 95A N. in Molino
- October 10 (6 to 10 p.m.) & October 27 (7 to 10 a.m. )
- Molino Community Center
- 6450 Highway 95A N. in Molino
- October 16 (6 to 10 p.m.) & October 27 (7 to 10 a.m. )
- Langley Bell 4-H Center
- 3730 Stefani Road in Cantonment
Students who have taken the online course and wish to complete the classroom portion must bring the online-completion report with them.All firearms, ammunition and materials are provided free of charge. Students should bring a pen or pencil and paper. An adult must accompany children younger than 16 at all times.
Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975, must pass an approved hunter safety course and have a hunting license to hunt alone (unsupervised). The FWC course satisfies hunter-safety training requirements for all other states and Canadian provinces.
Contact Paul Averill, Florida Fish and Wildlife hunter safety instructor at (850) 982-8070m or visit MyFWC.com/HunterSafety for more information.
Escambia County Offers Sand For Sandbag Storm Prep
September 4, 2018
Escambia County is offering sand for sandbags for residents living in flood-prone areas. The sand will be available after 9 a.m. and distributed on a first come, first served basis. Residents must bring their own sandbags and shovels to one of the following locations (map):
- Don Sutton Park – 2320 Crabtree Church Road, Molino
- Travis M. Nelson Park – 4541 County Road 4, Bratt
- Escambia County Road Department – 601 Highway 297-A, Cantonment
- John R. Jones Jr. Athletic Park – 555 E. Nine Mile Road
- Equestrian Center – 7750 Mobile Highway
- Ferry Pass Middle School – 8355 Yancey Lane, sand on NW corner of school property on Parazine Street
- Baars Field Athletic Park – 13001 Sorrento Road
- Brent Athletic Park – 4711 N. W St.
When use properly, sand bags can be an effective tool for flooding from a rain event, but not for storm surge. For more information on how to make and use sandbags, visit the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (www.flash.org). Sand bags can be purchased at most local hardware or home improvement stores, typically for a low cost.
Pictured: Sand made available at Travis Nelson Park in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Wahoos Clinch Playoff Berth In 4-3 Win Over Smokies
September 4, 2018
Pensacola missed out on a chance to win the second-half title with a 3-0 loss to the Smokies on Labor Day at Smokies Stadium.
Offense was hard to come by for both teams on Monday. All three of Tennessee’s runs came in the third inning after the Wahoos ran into injury trouble. Wyatt Strahan (L, 7-12) started the game and left with one out in the bottom of the third due to a blister on his pitching hand. Rafael De Paula replaced Strahan and with his third pitch to P.J. Higgins, he struck in the hand by a line drive, which forced him to leave the game. Higgins’s single loaded the bases, and it forced Carlos Navas to enter the game. He allowed a bases-clearing double to Eddy Martinez to give the Smokies a 3-0 lead.
Keegan Thompson (W, 6-3) pitched five shutout innings and allowed one hit while striking out five. Only twice were the Wahoos able to move runners into scoring position; however, the Wahoos were unable to cash in on either of those opportunities.
Pensacola’s bullpen was nothing short of brilliant given the circumstances of Monday’s contest. After Navas allowed the double to Martinez, the bullpen pitched 5.2 hitless innings. Nick Howard pitch three innings after making an appearance in Sunday’s win and Alejandro Chacin closed out the eighth inning in order.
Pensacola and Biloxi will open the 2018 Southern League Playoffs on Wednesday at MGM Park. The Shuckers won both halves, which means that four of the five games will be played in Biloxi if needed. Neither team has disclosed who will start the playoff opener.
Pictured: The Pensacola Blue Wahoos celebrate in Kodak, TN, after clinching a playoff berth. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FHP Seeks Help Identifying Credit Card Fraud Suspect
September 4, 2018
The Florida Highway Patrol is attempting to identify a man that allegedly made three fraudulent credit card transactions.
The FHP said Tuesday that the suspected entered the Home Depot on Nine Mile Road on April 27 and 28 and made three fraudulent purchases totaling $537.38. The transactions were by surveillance cameras.
The suspect is a white male, in his 20’s to 30’s, with facial hair.
Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call Trooper Joshua Tucker at (850) 316-2474 or email at joshuatucker@flhsmv.gov or call Crime Stoppers (850) 433-STOP.
Century’s Mayor Endorses Zimmerman For Congress, Garrett For House
September 3, 2018
A candidate for Florida House and a candidate for Congress have received the endorsement of Century Mayor Henry Hawkins.
“It’s always an honor to support wonderful people. It is my honor and privilege to endorse Dr. Jennifer Zimmerman for Congress,” Hawkins posted on his Facebook page. Zimmerman, a Democrat, is running for the Congressional seat held by Republican Matt Gaetz.
“It’s my pleasure and honor to publicly announce my support for Vikki R. Garrett candidate for Florida House of Representatives District 1. Let’s support her in this race she’s good for our district. As mayor I’ve reached out to her and she’s reached out to me offering her assistance in any way possible,” Hawkins also posted. Garrett is running against Republican Mike Hill on the November ballot.
Pictured: Jennifer Zimmerman (left) and Vikki Garrett.
Get Free Tech Help At The Molino And Century Libraries
September 3, 2018
Library patrons can receive free tech help at the library in Molino.
Need help learning how to use your computer, smartphone or other tech item? The Molino branch of the West Florida Library is offering local basic technology help for free.
At the Molino Branch Library, patrons can register to receive up to 30 minutes of individual technology help on Wednesdays from noon to 5 p.m. and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Find email, increase computer knowledge, improve skills with a smart phone, learn how to download e-books and more. Call (850) 435-1760 to reserve a session.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Master Gardener Program Forms Endowment Fund
September 3, 2018
The Escambia County Master Gardener Program has formed the Escambia County Master Gardener Endowment Fund, in conjunction with the University of Florida Foundation.
The University of Florida Foundation, a nonprofit organization, will be managing the funds for the endowment. All funds raised will go toward the operations of the ECMG Program. Bob McLaughlin, endowment committee chair, stated that this is a long-term funding strategy designed to allow the Master Gardener Program to continue providing local horticultural community education for many years.
The ECMG Endowment Fund has four designated funding levels, from Founder through Platinum Sponsor, each with a specific donation amount assigned. The ECMG Program will partner with staff from the University of Florida Foundation to hold local information and fundraising sessions to meet the first fundraising goal of $30,000, which they hope to reach by December 2020. All donations to the endowment are tax-deductible.
For more information on how you can support the ECMG Endowment or for more information on the Master Gardener Program, contact the UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County Master Gardener office at 850-475-5230 or visit the Master Gardener website here.