New Bridge Now Open On North Highway 99 In Oak Grove
June 21, 2018
Traffic has been shifted to a new North Highway 99 bridge over Pine Barren Creek, just north of the Oak Grove Park.
The new bridge with 11-foot travel lanes and nine-foot shoulders was built just west of the existing bridge, which was constructed in 1955. The old bridge will now be dismantled.
The $4.2 million Florida Department of Transportation project is expected to be completed in a few weeks.
Pictured: A new bridge is now open on North Highway 99 in Oak Grove. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Cantonment Three Vehicle Accident
June 21, 2018
There were no serious injures in a three vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon at Highway 297A and County Road 97 in Cantonment. Everyone involved refused transport to the hospital by Escambia County EMS following the 5:50 p.m. wreck. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Molino Wreck
June 21, 2018
One person was transported to a local hospital by ambulance after a wreck on Brickton Road near Warhop Lane in Molino about 8:10 p.m. Wednesday.. Their injuries were not considered life threatening. The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing their investigation. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Jacks Branch Road Wreck
June 21, 2018
There were no injuries in a wreck Wednesday afternoon on Jacks Branch Road near Lathram Chapel Church. Photo by Rhonda Lawson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Four New Candidates Enter Race For Century Council
June 21, 2018
Four new candidates tossed their names into the race for Century Town Council Wednesday, bringing the current total to six candidates for three seats.
The qualifying period ends at noon Friday.
Candidates are:
Seat 3
- Ben Boutwell (incumbent) – Qualified
- Amanuel Onell Dubose – Pre-filed
Seat 4
- Mary Bourgeois – Qualified
- John Brian Johnston – Pre-filed
- James Edward Smith, Jr. – Qualified
Seat 5
- Sandra McMurray-Jackson (incumbent)
Dubose and Johnston must complete the qualification process by the deadline in order to be on the ballot.
Pictured: Sandra McMurray-Jackson. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Summer Feeding Fun Day Held At Carver Park
June 21, 2018
Feeding the Gulf Coast held a Summer Feeding Fun Day was held Wednesday at Carver Park in Cantonment with activities and free snacks for children under 18. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Panhandle Equine Rescue Hosts Animal Cruelty Investigations School
June 21, 2018
Wednesday, Panhandle Equine Rescue in Cantonment hosted the hands-on portion of the American Animal Cruelty Investigations Schools taught by Doug Eddins.
Animal control officers from Mobile, Baton Rouge, LA and Ocala, FL, joined sheriff’s deputies from Amite, LA, and Jefferson County, AL , in the class. Local Farrier Josh Weekly taught an equine podiatry class showing the importance of keeping a horse’s feet in good shape and how to recognize problems and abuse.
The only horse rescue in Escambia County, PER was founded by a small group of concerned citizens with a mission to rescue, rehabilitate and provide adoption services for abused, neglected and abandoned equines. PER is authorized by the court system to investigate equine cruelty in Escambia County.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
K-9 Takes Loaded Shotgun From Suspect, Credited With Saving Officers (With Bodycam Video)
June 21, 2018
The newest K-9 at the Pensacola Police Department is being credited with saving the lives of several officers and a suspect after the police dog took a loaded shotgun out of the hands of an armed burglary
suspect.
The incident occurred at 137 North K Street early this morning when 36-year old Oliver Hurst went across the street to a girlfriend’s house and forced his way inside the front door armed with a shotgun. He threatened the woman with the gun before retreating back to his residence. Police were called, and when officers arrived, they observed Hurst on his front porch.
Hurst refused orders from officers to surrender, and he ran inside his house. Officers pursued Hurst into the home and observed him grab the shotgun from a couch. K-9 Foster, an 18 month old German Shepherd, latched onto the shotgun and pulled it from the hands of Hurst. Officers deployed a Taser on Hurst who was then taken into custody as K-9 Foster took the weapon away from the area and into another room where it was seized by officers.
Because of the quick actions of K-9 Foster, the suspect was not able to fire the shotgun at police, and the officers did not have to use deadly force on Hurst.
Hurst was taken into custody and charged with armed burglary, aggravated assault, battery, criminal mischief, and aggravated assault on an LEO.
K-9 Foster and K-9 Nashoba were both purchased from generous donations made by Pensacola residents Dana and Lisa Foster.
Man Shot At Cantonment Home By Suspect That Knocked At Door
June 20, 2018
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a suspect after a man was shot at a home in Cantonment Tuesday night.
Deputies responded to a report of shots fired in the 500 block of Irene Lane, just north of Muscogee Road, about 10:20 p.m.
The victim told deputies that the unknown suspect knocked on his door. When the victim went to the door to determine who was knocking, the suspect fired an unknown weapon through the door. The adult male was shot in the stomach and transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital with injuries that did not appear to be life threatening.
The victim was unable to provide a description of the suspect, but told deputies that he fled on foot before heard the sound of a vehicle rapidly fleeing the area in an unknown direction.
Anyone with information on the suspect is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Update: Additional information released Wednesday following investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office did not indicate that the victim opened the door as information provided by the ECSO Tuesday night stated.
Story by NorthEscambia.com. Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Citizens Insurance May Delay Rate Hike
June 20, 2018
Citizens Property Insurance is poised to delay a 7.9 percent rate increase for policyholders, after some board members suggested Tuesday another rate hike may be too soon following a May 1 increase.
The Citizens Board of Governors, which oversees the government-backed insurer that has some 443,000 policies in the state, will discuss the proposal at its Wednesday meeting in Maitland.
Bette Brown, a consumer representative on the board, asked the Citizens Actuarial and Underwriting Committee on Tuesday to delay action on the annual rate request. She said much of the state, particularly South Florida and the Keys, is still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, which hit the state last September.
“Florida is still in an ongoing emergency, really, recovering,” said Brown, who lives in Monroe County, one of the state’s most heavily damaged areas.
The actuarial committee unanimously adopted Brown’s recommendation, saying the question of the next rate increase will be considered by the full board.
John Wortman, chairman of the actuarial committee, said one possibility would be to delay the 2019 rate increase to next May 1, since a 6.6 percent increase for homeowners with Citizens multi-peril policies took effect last month.
The 2018 rate increase, which normally would have taken effect in February, was delayed until May, following a 90-day rate freeze imposed after Irma.
Under the 2019 rate proposal that will be considered by the board, personal-lines policies for Citizens customers will increase by a statewide average of 7.9 percent, while commercial lines will increase by 8.9 percent.
Personal policyholders include homeowners, condominium-unit owners, renters and mobile-home owners. Commercial lines include condominium associations as well as non-residential property.
Under the rate proposal, inland homeowners with multi-peril policies will face an average increase of 8.3 percent, while coastal homeowners would have a 9.5 percent increase. Wind-only personal-lines policies would increase statewide by 7.8 percent.
Rate increases will vary by county, although the highest increases will be in populous South Florida. Average rates for homeowner multi-peril policies in Miami-Dade County will increase 9.8 percent, with an average annual premium of $3,945. In Broward, rates will increase 9.9 percent on average, with a $3,294 premium.
Wind-only homeowner policies in Monroe County would increase by an average 7.8 percent, with a $3,737 premium.
Pinellas County, which has the third highest total of Citizens multi-peril homeowner policies, would see a 2.8 percent average increase, with a $1,705 premium, according to the proposal.
Rates would decline in a few counties, including Okaloosa, where multi-peril homeowner policies would decrease by an average of 5.5 percent, with a $1,811 premium. But there are only 118 Citizens homeowner policies in that Panhandle community, compared to 54,431 in Miami-Dade.
A factor in the rate increase is the continuing controversy over the “assignment of benefits” practice where property owners with claims assign their insurance benefits to contractors and other firms, which seek reimbursement from the insurance companies. Citizens officials say it leads to increased fraud and inflated claims, while defenders of the practice say it allows property owners to be adequately compensated.
The new rate proposal notes that assignment of benefit claims “are on the rise, particularly in South Florida, and are one of the major factors driving increased non-weather water losses and Citizens’ increased rate need.”
Any rate increase approved by the Citizens Board of Governors is subject to review by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Last year, the board approved a 6.7 percent increase for homeowners’ multi-peril policies but the rate was reduced to 6.6 percent by state insurance regulators.
Citizens annual rate increases are capped at 10 percent under a “glide path” provision in the state law.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida