Driver Flips Pickup Into Molino Yard
July 16, 2018
A driver apparently fled the scene after crashing a pickup truck into a Molino yard Sunday night.
The pickup overturned into a fence on Molino Road near Sunshine Hill Road about 9 p.m. The driver was not around the vehicle when first responders arrived a short time later.
The crash is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Summer Reading Fun, Summer STEAM This Week At the Molino And Century Libraries
July 16, 2018
Here’s some of what’s happening this week at the Molino and Century branch libraries.
Bucky & Gigi
Wednesday, July 18, 11 a.m. – Century Branch Library
Thursday, July 19, 11 a.m. – Molino Branch Library
These two former Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Clowns will amaze and amuse, dazzle and delight, by using physical comedy, circus skills, mime, magic improvisation and audience participation.
Summer STEAM
Tuesday, July 17, 2 p.m. – Century Branch Library
Join us for the program, Making Music: Strings. You can make music with almost anything. This time we will be making string instruments using mostly recyclable
materials. Create it here and take it home with you for hours of fun.
Wednesday, July 18, 10:30 a.m. – Molino Branch Library
Come explore new robots from the West Florida Public Libraries collection in this hands-on experience. Learn to think like a robot in order to code your robot to complete tasks.
NorthEcambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Felon Convicted On Additional Weapon And Drug Charges
July 16, 2018
A felon from Escambia County has been convicted of additional drug and firearm charges.
After a three-day jury trial, Kenneth Lamar Weathers, 27, was convicted of two counts of possessing a firearm by a convicted felon and possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute. The verdict was announced by Christopher P. Canova, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
In June 2017, while cleaning a hotel room, a housekeeper found a pistol under the mattress. Weathers, who stayed in the room the night before the current occupant, was determined to have possessed the firearm.
In October 2017, law enforcement officers were notified that an armed male, later identified as Weathers, was within a residence. When officers arrived, an injured woman was in the rear bedroom of the apartment with Weathers. During a search of the residence, a pistol was located between the mattress and box spring where Weathers was lying. A bag in the closet contained $3,661 in U.S. currency, 15 individually wrapped clear baggies with cocaine, and Weathers’s Florida identification card.
For possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, Weathers faces a maximum of 10 years in prison. For possessing with intent to distribute a controlled substance, he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 25 at the U.S. Courthouse in Pensacola.
Ernest Ward High 50-Year Multi-Class Reunion Scheduled
July 16, 2018
The Ernest Ward High School Class of 1968 will host a multi-class reunion for the classes of 1967, 1968 and 1969 on Saturday, August 4, at the Walnut Hill Ruritan Club building at 7 p.m.
To RSVP or for more information, call Karen (Pitts) Brown 850-327-4523, Brenda (Clark) Berry 850-327-6435, Renee’ (Blanton) Godwin (850) 327-6757 or Mike Hanks (251) 368-4660.
FDOT: This Week’s Trouble Spots On State Roads
July 16, 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) – Drivers traveling U.S. 29 and Nine Mile Road will encounter traffic pattern changes from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, July 15 through Saturday, July 21.
- Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 overpass: North and southbound traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction. Alternating traffic shifts will direct all traffic onto the westbound or eastbound lanes as crews continue construction of the new center bridge deck. Nine Mile Road lane restrictions are Sunday through Friday.
- U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road: Alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations. U.S. 29 lane restrictions are Monday through Saturday.
- Northbound traffic has been shifted onto the newly constructed bridge section as demolition efforts continue.
- U.S. 29 Resurfacing between U.S. 90 and Muscogee Road – Paving operations continue between Muscogee Road and West 9 ½ Mile Road. Lane closures will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, July 15 through Thursday, July 19.
- I-10 / U.S. 29 Interchange Improvements Phase I – The following traffic impacts are planned on I-10 and U.S. 29 near the interchange (Exits 10) from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, July 15 through Thursday, July 19.
- Alternating lane closures on I-10 east and westbound and U.S. 29 north and southbound.
- The U.S. 29 on-ramps to I-10 eastbound will be intermittently closed. Traffic will be detoured on U.S. 29 to access I-10 eastbound.
- Alternating lane closures on the I-10 westbound exit ramp to U.S. 29 north and south (Exit 10).
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Alternating lane closures on U.S. 98 east and westbound between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, July 15 through Thursday, July 19 as crews perform construction activities.
- Airport Boulevard from S.R. 291 (Davis Highway) to S.R. 289 (9th Avenue) – Intermittent lane closures between Davis Highway and 9th Avenue from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, July 15 through Thursday, July 19 as crews perform construction activities.
- S.R. 10A (Scenic Highway) Underground Utility Operations for Addison Drive – The northbound, left turn lane will be closed from 8 p.m. Monday, July 16 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, July 17 as crews relocate underground utilities.
- S.R. 10/U.S. 90A (Nine Mile Road) Widening from Pine Forest Road to U.S. 29– Waring Road will be closed at Nine Mile Road from 7 a.m. Tuesday, July 17 through 5 p.m. Friday, July 20 to place drainage pipes across the roadway. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternative routes. Detour signs and variable message boards are in place to alert drivers of the temporary road closure and detour routes.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 90 Bridge Rehabilitation/Repair over White River - The westbound lane from west of Woodbine Road to just past the White River Bridge will be restricted to one lane from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Friday, July 13 and Saturday, July 14.
- I-10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/Exit 22) – Alternating lane closures on I-10, from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard/Exit 22), from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, July 15 through Friday, July 20 as crews work to widen the roadway. In addition, alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange, will also be encountered as crews reconstruct the travel lanes.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Alternating lane closures between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, July 15 through Sunday, July 19 as crews perform construction activities.
- S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB boundary to Hickory Hammock Road – The following construction-related traffic impacts are planned S.R. 87 the week of Monday, July 16:
- North and southbound traffic on S.R. 87 south of the Yellow River bridge will be shifted to the newly constructed northbound lanes. Crews will work to reconstruct the southbound travel lanes.
- Intermittent lane shifts on S.R. 87 north and southbound, between the Eglin Air Force Base boundary and two miles south of the Yellow River, for paving work.
- Traffic between County Road 184 (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. 87 Landscape between U.S. 98 and River Road – Drivers can expect intermittent turn lane restrictions between U.S. 98 and River Road 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday as crews install landscape and irrigation.
Escambia County Receives Distinguished Budget Presentation Award
July 16, 2018
Escambia County’s Office of Management and Budget’s 2017/18 Fiscal Year Budget has received the Government Finance Officers Association’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the county’s 2017/18 fiscal year budget. Escambia County has been honored to be recognized with the award every year since 1995.
According to the GFOA, the award represents a significant achievement, reflecting the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. In order to receive the budget award, the entity had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide and a communications device. Budget documents must be rated “proficient” in all four categories, and in the 14 mandatory criteria within those categories, to receive the award.
Government Finance Officers Association is a professional association servicing the needs of more than 19,000 appointed and elected local, state, and provincial-level government officials and other finance practitioners.
Wahoos Tie Series In Wild 11th Inning Win Over M-Braves
July 16, 2018
In the third straight extra innings game between the Blue Wahoos and the Mississippi Braves, the Wahoos found a way to come out on top, 12-9, Sunday night at Trustmark Park.
Already leading 2-1, the Braves scored three runs in the third inning and chased Wahoos starter Wyatt Strahan from the game after the second consecutive bases-loaded walk. The Blue Wahoos were quick to respond and get their starter off the hook with four runs in the fourth inning. Pensacola used walks to Cassidy Brown and TJ Frield along with a Jose Siri double, and singles from Mitch Nay and Shed Long to do the damage and even the game at 5-5.
With the Wahoos trailing by a run, Nay homered in the sixth inning to even the game at 6-6. Pensacola took the lead when Luis Gonzalez dashed home on a dropped throw at second base when the Braves tried to throw out Brown advancing on a wild pitch. Mississippi quickly responded and tied the game in the seventh inning to set up extra innings.
Both teams scored their designated runners in the 10th before Pensacola opened it up with a four-run 11th inning. The Blue Wahoos chipped away with two singles, an error and a walk to saddle the Braves and reliever Kelvin Vasquez (L, 3-2) with the loss.
The night after he suffered the loss in the 10th inning, Carlos Navas (W, 4-1) by giving up just the one run to the designated runner in Sunday’s contest.
The seesaw game went back and forth all night and featured 13 different pitchers combined who walked a total of 15 batters with 16 strikeouts. There were five errors between the two teams and Braves manager Chris Maloney got ejected for the second time in the series. Both teams combined for 29 hits in a game that lasted four hours and one minute.
The Blue Wahoos got multi-hit games from Nay, Gavin LaValley, Narciso Crook and Brown. Brown and Nay each finished with three hits to pace the offense. LaValley led the charge with three RBI.
The series wraps up on Monday night with LHP Seth Varner (4-1, 2.60) starting for the Blue Wahoos against M-Braves RHP Enderson Franco (4-6, 3.61).
Thousands Wowed By The Blue Angels
July 15, 2018
Thousands packed Pensacola Beach Saturday for the annual Pensacola Beach Air Show featuring the Blue Angels. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
North Escambia Has Been Invaded By Snails
July 15, 2018
Northern Escambia and Santa Rosa counties have been invaded by snails.
“It is really unbelievable how many we have, Diann Tagert of Jay said. She said they are everywhere around her home.
Tagert said she has resorted to using salt to keep the slimy little things and their tiny home shells away from her carport.
The tiny little invaders have been identified as the species Bulimulus sporadicus, according to Michael Donahoe, director of the Santa Rosa County Extension Service. The snails from the West Indies were first reported in Florida in Jacksonville, mostly around railroad tracks. They’ve since spread, with infestations in several areas of the state.
“As far as we can tell, they are not chewing plant parts or causing damage like slugs,” he said.
Not only are the snails appearing around homes, they are also appearing on crops with no great way to control them.
“Insecticides simply did not work,” Donahoe said.
Courtesy photos and photos by Diann Tagert for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
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Man Gets Jail Time For Burning Puppy In A Hot Shower
July 15, 2018
A Santa Rosa man has been sentenced to jail time for animal abuse after burning a puppy in a hot shower.
Liam Johnson entered a plea straight up to Circuit Judge David Rimmer on one count of aggravated animal cruelty. Judge Rimmer then sentenced Johnson to 180 days in the county jail and three years of probation. In addition to the general terms of supervision, the defendant was ordered to not possess any animals.
On the night of November 2, 2017, Johnson’s girlfriend took their puppy to an animal hospital due to burns it had sustained earlier that day.
the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Department was notified of the dog’s condition and conducted an investigation. Johnson told law enforcement that the dog had a seizure and was unresponsive so he tried to revive the dog by putting him in
a hot shower.
Johnson admitted that he did not seek medical care for the dog and waited for his girlfriend to get off work to handle the situation. The criminal charge resulted from his failure to provide medical care as well as the initial improper treatment, according to presecutors.
Due to the dog’s condition, Johnson’s girlfriend elected humane euthanasia.