‘Donate Life’ Pelican Unveiled At Tax Collector’s Office
April 4, 2018
A Donate Life Kick-off and Pelican Unveiling event hosted by Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford was held Tuesday afternoon in downtown Pensacola.
April is National Donate Life Month, and Commissioner Doug Underhill presented a proclamation as a new “Donate Life” pelican was unveiled by several dignitaries.
To learn more about organ donation, visit www.donatelife.net.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
State Fire Marshal Investigating After Fire Heavily Damages Bratt Home
April 3, 2018
The cause of a fire that heavily damaged a home in Bratt Tuesday afternoon is under investigation.
Flames were erupting several feet into the air from the attic of the concrete block home and the attic was fully involved before the first fire engine arrived on scene.
A family had reportedly moved out of the home last week and someone else was about to move into the home. The fire appeared to have started in the attic, but the exact cause is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
There were no injuries reported in the 3:05 p.m. fire.
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Video is at the bottom of the page.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Fire Department, Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the blaze.
Pictured: Flames erupt from the attic of a home in Bratt Tuesday afternoon before the arrival of the first fire engine. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Teen Injured In After-School Crash Tuesday In Bratt
April 3, 2018
A student was injured in a two vehicle crash just school was dismissed at Northview High School Tuesday afternoon in Bratt.
The accident happened about 3:35 p.m. on West Highway 4 just west of North Highway 99. A 16-year old female was transported to by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital after she apparently rear-ended a pickup truck wile both vehicles were headed east on Highway 4. The occupants of the pickup truck were not injured.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Walnut Hill and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the wreck.
NorthEcambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
New Historic Marker To Be Dedicated In Century
April 3, 2018
For the first time in decades, a new state historic marker is set to be dedicated in North Escambia.
The marker commemorating the Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company Residential Historic District will be dedicated at 2 p.m. on April 21 near the corner of Jefferson and Front streets in Century.
According to the planned text for the marker, the Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company was constructed in 1901 and was one of the largest and most advanced pine sawmills east of the Mississippi. Along with the sawmill came the company mill town of Century and housing districts “for black and white families”. The housing ranged from small shotgun houses to large, two-story executive homes. Today’s current Front, Church, Fourth and Mayo streets, and Jefferson and Pinewood avenues are part of the historic district, consisting of 45 historic structures and a formal garden site. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
The dedication will be followed by a small reception at Jones Park on Fourth Street.
The full text that will appear on the historic marker is below, click to enlarge. Pictured top: Russell Brown of the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society explains the size and design of a new historic marker to be erected in Century during an August 2017 Century Town Council meeting. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Kingsfield Rollover
April 3, 2018
One person was injured in a single vehicle rollover accident about 6:45 p.m. Monday at East Kingsfield Road near Tate Road. Additional details have not been released as the Florida Highway Patrol continues their investigation. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Scott Faces Deadline On Final Batch Of Bills
April 3, 2018
Gov. Rick Scott has a little more than a week to act on the remaining 19 bills from the 2018 legislative session, including a water-related measure drawing fire from environmentalists.
The proposal would allow chemically treated, recycled water to be pumped into the state’s underground aquifer, an effort supporters argue is a means to boost the state’s anount of potable water but which critics fear could contaminate Florida’s supply of drinking water
The contentious measure is part of a wide-ranging bill (HB 1149) that addresses a variety of water-related issues, including rules regarding rebuilding single-family docks and the operation of the C-51 reservoir project south of Lake Okeechobee.
The sweeping proposal also directs the state Department of Environmental Protection and regional water management districts to develop rules for reclaimed-water facility projects that require a permit.
Rep. Bobby Payne, a Palatka Republican who sponsored the measure, said any water being pumped into the aquifer must meet clean water drinking standards.
“Reclaimed water can start out as many different kinds of water,” Payne told members of the House Government Accountability Committee in February. “We often have reclaimed water that we use in irrigation. But this water will be sanitized and reused as (to) the drinking water standard.”
The reclaimed water will help combat salt water intrusion into the aquifer, Payne said.
But David Cullen, a lobbyist for the Sierra Club, said his group opposed the measure because of the potential long-term negative impact caused by the use of chemicals.
Cullen objected to “stuff we don’t know about” at wastewater treatment plants being used to treat water that would go into the aquifer.
“It’s the Pottery Barn rule,” Cullen said. “You break it, you bought it — for decades, perhaps generations.”
Rep. Wengay Newton, a Democrat from St. Petersburg who voted against the measure, also worried the proposal could impact the state’s drinking water supply.
“You have people that are at odds because of fracking, because we don’t know the issue with the chemicals that are injected into the ground in that process,” Newton said. “But we’re okay with taking wastewater, mixed in with chemicals, and then deep-well inject it back into the aquifers.”
But Payne said no environmental agency would allow untreated wastewater to be put into the aquifer.
The Florida Water Environment Association Utility Council and the National Waste & Recycling Association are among the groups backing the measure.
Meanwhile, thousands of opponents have signed onto an online petition seeking a veto from Scott, who is expected to announce a bid for the U.S. Senate next week. During appearances in Marathon and Sarasota last week, Scott sought to boost his environmental credentials by touting his administration’s efforts to protect beaches, the Florida Everglades and Lake Okeechobee.
Other legislation still awaiting action from Scott include a measure (HB 55) that would allow people buying guns to use credit cards to pay for background checks, something they now can do with a personal check, money order or cashier’s check. Another bill (HB 523) would make it a third-degree felony to trespass on airport property where properly placed signs warn people to stay off the grounds.
The governor has until April 10 to act on the last batch of the 195 bills approved during the 60-day session that ended March 11.
So far, Scott has only vetoed a single bill, a “local” bill that would have expanded the governing board of the Palm Beach County Housing Authority.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Federal Lawsuit Details Sexual Harassment Claims Against Atmore Arby’s
April 3, 2018
NorthEscambia.com has obtained the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit against Beaver’s Inc. alleging that the company violated federal law when it subjected several teenage female employees at an Atmore Arby’s restaurant to sexual harassment.
NorthEscambia.com was the first local media to report the story early Saturday morning.
The EEOC alleges that between May 4, 2016, and August 11, 2016, Beavers engage in unlawful employment practices at its Atmore Arby’s store in violation of federal law, subjecting female employees to “to severe, pervasive,unwanted, degrading and offensive sexual conduct, based on their female gender.
According to the EEOC, the unlawful sexual harassment was perpetrated by the Atmore Arby’s team leader Montrelle Fisher. The lawsuit details at least 18 incidents and allegations of misconduct by Fisher against two teenagers and other female employees at the store.
The allegations made by the EEOC in the federal lawsuit include:
- There were multiple incidents in which Fisher made sexually suggested comments to the teens and other females as they worked, and he asked one teen for a hug and kiss on several occasions.
- Fisher gave a mobile phone to a female employee that contained a photograph of his genitalia. Fisher also made numerous comments to that employee of sexual nature.
- Fisher made persistent attempts to get the attention of female employees and pursue a sexual relationship with female employees. Fisher sent Facebook and text messages begging two teens to come home with him or let him come home with them. Fisher’s messages included how he wanted to wake up the female employees in bed with sexual acts and cook them breakfast.
- Fisher attempted to follow a teen home from work without invitation while texting her, “When are you gonna let me come over and chill with you.” And he followed another teen home from work without invitation.
- Fisher pursued one teen, pressuring her to spend time with him as a “girlfriend”, and made frequent unwelcome sexual comments to her.
- Fisher deliberately invaded the personal space of female employees, including one teen, while she was working in plain view of customers and other employees. Fisher waited for the teen to go into the cooler alone, approached her from behind
- Fisher made crude sexual comments about female customers in front of female employees.
- Female employees repeatedly refused Fisher’s sexual advances, but this did not deter Fisher’s harassment.
- Fisher pressured one female employee to be his “girlfriend” and said he would give her anything she wanted.
The practices continued until Fisher physically injured one of the teens, according to the EEOC. The lawsuit does not detail the nature of those injuries.
Fisher’s conduct was open and notorious and Arby’s, including its supervisors and managers, was aware of it, but the company failed to take remedial action, the government alleges, creating a hostile work environment and were done with “malice or reckless indifference to the federally protected rights of the teens and other female employees at the Atmore Arby’s.
The EEOC seeks a permanent injunction against Beaver’s from engaging in sexual harassment other other employment practices which discriminate on the basis of sex, and equal opportunity for women. The EEOC seeks appropriate compensation and punitive damages for the teens and other females.
Traffic Flowing On New County Road 97A Bridge
April 3, 2018
Traffic was recently shifted to a new $3 million bridge replacement project on County Road 97A over Boggy Creek near Enon in Escambia County. The new modem bridge features 12-foot travel lanes, eight foot shoulders, a solid concrete barrier railing and new bridge approaches.
The bridge that was replaced was constructed in 1969.
Crews are working to disassemble the temporary bridge and completing miscellaneous work items. The entire project is anticipated to be complete around the end of April, weather permitting. Work started in January 2017.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FDLE Upgrades Florida’s Sex Offender Registry
April 3, 2018
FDLE unveiled Florida’s updated Sex Offender Registry Monday, improving ease of use for citizens and making the webpage mobile friendly.
The new look makes it easier for citizens to search for offenders by name, living in neighborhoods, and on college campuses. Citizens can also access Florida sex offender laws, safety tips and other state registries. To access the newly designed registry, click here.
Joy Jones Named Escambia Public Works Director, Replacing Retiring Joy Blackmon
April 3, 2018
Escambia County has named Joy Jones as the new director of Public Works, replacing Joy Blackmon was retired from the position Monday after 19 years with the county.
“While we are greatly saddened to lose Joy Blackmon and her wealth of knowledge to retirement, we are very much looking forward to Joy Jones stepping up to an even greater level of leadership. She is well respected both with our staff and the local engineering community. We wish Joy Blackmon safe travels as she explores the United States and all its famous landmarks,” Escambia County Administrator Jack Brown said.
Blackmon (pictured top) began her career with Escambia County in 1999 as an engineer. During her tenure with the county, Blackmon has held several positions including development plans review manager, chief of development services, division manager, assistant director of county engineering, interim assistant county administrator and public works bureau chief. Beyond the numerous road, drainage, bridge and sidewalk improvement projects for the county, she also assisted with recovery efforts from major disasters including hurricanes George, Charley, Frances, Ivan and Dennis, and an ice storm and flooding in 2014.
Jones (pictured left) most recently served as Escambia County’s assistant County Engineer and division manager of the Public Works, Engineering and Construction Division, a position she held since April 2015. Her responsibilities included providing oversight on real estate acquisitions and contract design and construction of local option sales tax-funded infrastructure projects like bridges, new roadways, roadway resurfacing, dirt road paving, lane widening, stormwater facilities, civil site work on public property and the construction of grants and other agency-funded projects.
The division also manages contracted surveys, design and construction services for infrastructure projects funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Federal Highway Association, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, RESTORE and other state and federal agencies. As Escambia County’s Public Works Director, Jones’ responsibilities will include supervising engineering, roads, and traffic divisions within the department.
Jones was born in Tennessee and spent her summers vacationing in the Florida panhandle with her family. She moved to Pensacola in 1985 after leaving the Air Force and has spent the last 33 years in the area.
Jones said she was initially drawn to a position with Escambia County while working as a senior project manager for Hatch Mott McDonald, after working closely with Blackmon on a private consulting project.
“I was working on the private sector side and met Joy Blackmon while we were working to coordinate the water and sewer details for a project,” Jones said. “She encouraged me to consider a position with the county.”
Jones took her first position with the county in 2004 as an engineer. Her duties included the supervised technical reviews of stormwater designs, plats, traffic access, and environmental improvements to wetlands and coastal areas. She was also responsible for the review and approval of multiple complex construction plans for compliance with the Land Development Code.
Jones said she is enthusiastic about her new role as the director of Public Works, as it will allow her to continue her work for the citizens of Escambia County.
“I’m excited to be able to continue to care for the citizens and infrastructure of this county, just like I’ve been able to do previously with the engineering and construction division,” she said. “I’m also looking forward to working more closely with the traffic and road division.”
Jones graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering and from Pensacola State College with an associate’s degree in general engineering. She has 23 years of experience in the field of engineering and is a member of the Florida Engineering Society, the National Society of Professional Engineers, and the American Public Works Association.