Driver Uninjured In Sunday Night Cantonment Accident
April 16, 2018
A driver refused medical treatment after a single vehicle rollover crash Sunday in Cantonment. The accident occurred about 9:20 p.m. in the 1000 block of South County Road 97, near Tobias Road. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Century Historical Board Approves Replacement Of Tornado Damaged Mobile Home
April 16, 2018
The Century Historic Preservation Board has approved the replacement of a tornado damaged 1964 mobile home located within the Alger Sullivan Historical District.
The current residence at 581 Church Street is actually two mobile homes in an “L” shape, and one was damaged by a February 2016 EF-.3 tornado that struck the town.
The replacement will be funded by a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) that was received by the Town of Century for tornado recovery. The new home will have two bedrooms and two bathrooms and will be handicap accessible.
Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Drop Third Straight
April 16, 2018
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos lost5-4 to Chattanooga Sunday.
For the third straight game the Blue Wahoos had a late-game threat, and for the third straight game, they came up empty.
The Blue Wahoos played catchup for a majority of Sunday’s finale and left the tying run in scoring position in the ninth to lose their second-straight series to open the season.
Wyatt Strahan (L, 1-1) was roughed up in his second start and Lookouts starter Kohl Stewart (W, 2-0) briefly flirted with a perfect game.
In Sunday’s matinee, Chattanooga scored first for the first time in the series by cashing in on an error by Gavin LaValley combined with an RBI-single by T.J. White.
White wasn’t done there, because when he came to the plate in the third inning with a man out, he crushed his second homer of the year to make it 3-0. White finished the game with three of Chattanooga’s five RBIs. Zander Wiel also had a big day at the plate going 3-for-4 and getting hit by a Strahan pitch.
Meanwhile, Stewart was tremendous to open the game for the Lookouts. He retired the first 13 Blue Wahoos he faced before Josh VanMeter walked for the Wahoos’ first baserunner. Aristides Aquino ended the no-hitter bid on the next pitch when he roped a double into left to put to men in scoring position. The Wahoos would only settle for one run in the fifth thanks to Brian O’Grady’s RBI groundout.
Pensacola rallied for two more in the sixth when Nick Longhi homered off Stewart to score Shed Long and make it a one-run game. Again, the Wahoos had the tying run in scoring position but stranded him there when Aquino ended the inning with a flyout.
Ryan Walker’s eighth-inning home run proved to be a massive insurance run because in the bottom of the eighth, Long and Longhi opened the frame with singles and then advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. LaValley hit a sac fly to make it 5-4 and Longhi was at third base with only one out in the inning; however, Gabby Guerrero and VanMeter were both retired to end the threat.
The Wahoos made one final push in the ninth when Aquino led off the inning of the ninth with a double, but Harper retired O’Grady and Garrett Boulware before Williams Ramirez (S, 2) struck out pinch-hitter CJ McElroy for his second save of the year.
At Least One Injured In Williams Ditch Road Collision
April 15, 2018
At least one person was injured in a two vehicle crash on Williams Ditch Road near Cantonment early Sunday afternoon.
The roadway was was blocked by the wreck. The 12:15 p.m. collision is under investigation the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Saturday Night Storm Causes Damage At Atmore Home
April 15, 2018
Saturday night storms destroyed a carport at an Atmore home. The carport, twisted and turned by the wind, fell onto vehicles at a home on 14th Avenue off Horner Street. There were no injuries reported. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Teen Welcomed Home Days After Full Cardiac Arrest At School
April 15, 2018
It’s a miracle that 16-year old Deverick Williams is alive today — and a miracle that he is back home with his family.
The sophomore collapsed in cardiac arrest on to the gym floor after playing basketball last Monday at Flomaton High School.
But thanks to the response of those around him and in the community, Deverick was welcomed home Saturday evening. The Flomaton Fire Department escorted Deverick and his family from Century to their home in Flomaton where he was joined by community members, school staff and the fire department.
“If it weren’t for the school staff being trained in CPR and such a quick response from fire and EMS the chances of him surviving cardiac arrest were slim to none,” Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton said.
Full Cardiac Arrest
After Deverick fell to the floor in full cardiac arrest April 9, a coached dialed 911. School nurse Nikoleda Johnson, who just happened to be in the gym, started CPR.
Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton, Captain Jeremy Lee, and Flomaton Police officer Leonard Connelly arrived at Flomaton High School within about two minutes. An AED – automated external defibrillator — was used, and CPR continued. Flomaton volunteer firemen Ryan Reaves and Tyler Lambeth arrived along with Barnett Crossroads Fire Chief Ben Roe to provide relief to those that had performing CPR for several minutes. Firefighters said over 200 chest compressions and dozens of breaths were given before Williams regained a pulse.
He was still struggling to breathe as he was loaded into an Escambia County (FL) EMS unit and transported less than 100 yards away to the football field and a medical helicopter. He was flown to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola and later transferred by air to Shands Hospital in Gainesville.
Pictured top: Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton with Deverick Williams and his mother Saturday night. Pictured inset: Deverick posses with members of the Flomaton Fire Department. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Tennis Wraps Up Winning Season, Heads To Districts
April 15, 2018
The Tate High School Tennis boys and girls both finish their regular season with 11-3 records heading into district competition Monday and Tuesday at Gulf Breeze Community Center. Matches begin at 8:30 a.m. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
April 15, 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:
- State Road (S.R.) 742 (Creighton Road) Construction Improvement Project from east of Davis Highway (S.R. 291) to Scenic Highway (U.S. 90)- Alternating and intermittent lane closures on Creighton Road between Davis Highway and 9th Ave., and on 9th Ave. at the intersection of Creighton Road from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, April 15 through Saturday, April 21 continue as crews perform milling, paving, sidewalk and curb replacement.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Alternating east and westbound lane closures between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, April 15 through Thursday, April 19 as crews perform construction activities.
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to 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, April 15 through Saturday, April 21 as follows:
- 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: Drivers may experience alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations. U.S. 29 lane restrictions are Monday through Saturday.
- U.S. 29 Resurfacing between U.S. 90 and Muscogee Road – Alternating lane closures on U.S. 29 north and southbound, from Muscogee Road to West 9 ½ Mile Road, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, April 15 through Thursday, April 19 as crews pave the roadway
- I-10 Routine Maintenance Over Perdido River at the Florida/Alabama Line – The east and westbound right (outside) lane will be closed from 8 p.m. Monday, April 16 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, April 17 as crews replace joints on the bridge.
- I-10 Routine Maintenance Over Escambia Bay- Westbound traffic will encounter lane restrictions across the Escambia Bay Bridge from 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 17 to 5 a.m. Wednesday, April 18 as crews replace joints on the bridge.
- 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, April 15 through Thursday, April 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.
· U.S. 98 (S.R. 30) 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, April 15 through Thursday, April 19 as crews perform construction activities.
· S.R. 95 Underground Utility Work Between Salter’s Lake Road and S.R. 4 in Century- The northbound, outside lane between Salter’s Lake Road and S.R. 4 will be closed from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Monday, April 23 as crews perform underground utility work.
· Nine Mile Road (S.R. 10/U.S. 90A) Widening from Beulah Road to Pine Forest Road Eight Mile Creek Road near Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one lane from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. the week of Monday, April 16 as crews relocate utilities. Traffic flaggers will be on site to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
· US 29 Pavement Testing from S.R. 4 to the Alabama State Line- There will be intermittent lane restrictions from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, April 16 through Wednesday, April 19 as crews perform pavement testing.
· S.R. 292 (Perdido Key Drive) Turn Lane Construction just east of River Road-The Traffic shift on Perdido Key Drive, just east of River Road, will continue through 8 a.m. Friday, May 4. The temporary shift will allow crews to construct an eastbound, left and westbound, right turn lane. Lane width will be reduced to 11-feet and the speed limit will be lowered to 35 miles per hour within the construction zone.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Turn Lane Closure at Panhandle Trail in Navarre- The east and westbound turn lanes from U.S. 98 to Panhandle Trail will be closed through 8 p.m. Thursday April 26 as crews work on the Panhandle master lift station.
- 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, April 15 through Monday, April 19 as crews perform construction activities.
- U.S. 90 Routine Maintenance Operations from Woodbine Road to Avalon Boulevard and U.S. 98 at Pullman Street- Motorists can expect intermittent turn lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5a.m. through Saturday, April 21 at the following locations.
o U.S. 90 from Woodbine Road to Avalon Boulevard
o U.S 98 westbound at Pullman Street.
- 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, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, April 15 through Friday, April 20 as crews work to widen the roadway.
- Additional impacts to traffic include: Alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange, as crews continue reconstructing the roadway.
- Traffic shift Sunday evening, April 15 on the Avalon Boulevard on-ramp to I-10 eastbound. The shift will be in place for the remainder of the spring so that crews may widen the on-ramp.
- U.S. 98 Paving Operation across from Joybrook Road in Navarre- Drivers will encounter east and westbound lane restrictions from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, April 16 through Thursday, April 19 as crews mill and pave turn and travel lanes for a new Walmart Neighborhood Market in Navarre.
- S.R. 87 (Stewart Street) in Milton between Rosasco Street and Magnolia Street- The southbound lane will be closed from 8 p.m. Monday, April 30 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, May 1 as crews perform utility work.
· U.S. 90 Safety Project at West Florida Baptist Academy- Activities are scheduled to begin in April to construct an eastbound, left turn lane in front of West Florida Baptist Academy in Milton. Drives can expect intermittent lane restrictions, however, there will be no lane closures between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m.
· S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB boundary to Hickory Hammock Road – Traffic between County Road 184 (Hickory Hammock Road) and the Eglin AFB boundary is restricted to loads less than 11-feet wide. The restriction will be in place until the project is complete.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled 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.
Ballot Proposals Range From Oil Drilling To School Board Term Limits
April 15, 2018
The Florida Constitution Revision Commission will consider 12 ballot proposals when it meets next week. Each proposal must receive at least 22 votes from the 37-member commission to be placed on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.
Here are snapshots of the proposed changes to the state Constitution:
— VICTIMS’ RIGHTS AND JUDGES (Proposal 6001): The proposal would establish a series of rights for crime victims, including the right to be notified of major developments in criminal cases and the right to be heard in legal proceedings. It also would increase the mandatory retirement age for judges from 70 to 75. It also would provide that judges or hearing officers should not necessarily defer to the interpretation of laws and rules by governmental agencies in legal proceedings.
— FIRST RESPONDERS AND HIGHER EDUCATION (Proposal 6002): The proposal would require the payment of death benefits when law enforcement officers, paramedics, correctional officers and other first responders are killed while performing their official duties. It also would apply to Florida National Guard and active-duty military members stationed in Florida. The proposal also would establish a governance system for the 28 state and community colleges. It would require a supermajority vote by university boards of trustees and the university system’s Board of Governors when raising student fees.
— PUBLIC SCHOOLS (Proposal 6003): The proposal would impose an eight-year term limit on school board members. It would allow an alternative process for approving public schools, including charter schools, rather than by local school boards. It also would establish a requirement for the teaching of civic literacy in public schools.
— OIL DRILLING AND VAPING (Proposal 6004): The proposal would prohibit drilling for gas and oil in state coastal waters and ban vaping and the use of electronic cigarettes in workplaces.
— GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE (Proposal 6005): The proposal would require all charter county governments to have elected constitutional officers, including sheriffs. It would lead to the Legislature beginning its annual session in January in even-numbered years. It would create an Office of Domestic Security and Counterterrorism in the Department of Law Enforcement. It also would revise the constitutional authority for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
— PROPERTY RIGHTS AND HIGH-SPEED RAIL (Proposal 6006): The proposal would remove constitutional language that prohibits “aliens ineligible for citizenship” from owning property. It also would remove obsolete language that authorizes a high-speed rail system. It would revise language to make clear that the repeal of a criminal statute does not affect the prosecution of any crime committed before the repeal.
— ETHICS (Proposal 6007): The proposal would impose a six-year lobbying ban on former state elected officials, state agency heads and local elected officials. It would also create a new ethics standard that would prohibit public officials from obtaining a “disproportionate benefit” from their actions while in office.
— INNOVATION SCHOOL DISTRICTS (Proposal 6008): The proposal would allow “high-performing” school districts to be designated as “innovation” districts and provide exemptions from some laws that normally apply to the districts.
— PRIMARY ELECTIONS (Proposal 6009): The proposal would allow all voters to participate in primary elections if all of the candidates have the same party affiliation and are only opposed by one or more write-in candidates.
— EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION (Proposal 6010): The proposal would mandate an employment-verification system to determine if workers are legally authorized to work under federal immigration laws. It would apply to workers hired after July 1, 2020.
— NAMING GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS (Proposal 6011): The proposal would prohibit government buildings, projects or programs from being named after elected officials who are members of the governmental entities making the decisions. It would apply to state and local governments.
— DOG RACING (Proposal 6012): The proposal would ban greyhound racing at Florida tracks after Dec. 31, 2020.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger
Tate Showband Members Hold Car Washes
April 15, 2018
The Tate High School Showband of the South held car washes in five locations Saturday from Highway 29 in Cantonment to Nine Mile Road. Above: The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue dropped Engine 4 by Advance Auto on Highway 29 for a wash. Pictured below: Tate Showband members wash vehicles Saturday morning at Express Oil Change on Nine Mile Road. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
