No Injuries In Highway 97 Crash In Walnut Hill
August 12, 2016
There were no serious injuries in a two vehicle crash Friday morning at the intersection of Highway 97 and Arthur Brown Road, near Ernest Ward Middle School.
Both drivers refused ambulance transport to the hospital. A small dog in one vehicle was also uninjured.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details were not released.
Atmore Ambulance and the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Aerial Views: Work Continues On Hwy 29, I-10 Interchange Improvements
August 12, 2016
Work is continuing on the Highway 29, I-10 interchange.
Pictured above is the I-10 eastbound bridge over the ramp from Highway 29 north to the I-10 westbound where crews are driving concrete piles that will support the wider overpass. The widening at this location will create a through travel lane for the U.S. 29 south to I-10 eastbound on-ramp. Once the widening work is completed, traffic from U.S. 29 south will no longer have a left-side merge onto I-10 eastbound.
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Pictured above is an aerial view of I-10 eastbound, near exit 10B, where pile driving is underway. In addition, construction teams are excavating for a new stormwater retention pond (left of photo). A new pond will be constructed to comply with drainage requirements.
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Above is a wider view of I-10 east and westbound looking east. Palafox Street and the CSX railroad overpass are seen crossing over I-10 at the top of this picture. The construction team has shifted I-10 westbound traffic to the outside in advance of widening the interstate for the new ramp configuration. When the interchange improvements are completed, I-10 westbound traffic destined for U.S. 29 north and south will exit the former exit 10B. Exit 10A (I-10 westbound to U.S. 29 south) will be removed and the new ramp will be designated “Exit 10″.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Evers, Hill Oppose Shifting Money Away From Protecting Local Waters
August 12, 2016
Two Panhandle lawmakers and a county commissioner objected Thursday to a $2.4 billion proposal by incoming Senate President Joe Negron to buy 60,000 acres of farmland south of Lake Okeechobee to help reduce toxic algae blooms in Southeast Florida waterways.
In a joint release, state Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, state Rep. Mike Hill, R-Pensacola Beach, and Santa Rosa County Commissioner Bob Cole announced plans to build a coalition against what they see as a potential shift of money away from protecting waters in North Florida.
“Water issues are critical to Florida’s future,” Evers said in a prepared statement. “We need plans that address our entire state’s water issue and not just one area. Sen. Negron’s proposal is shortsighted; it will cost billions of dollars, take decades, and still not fix South Florida’s problem. It will, however, put the rest of the state’s conservation dollars at risk.”
Evers, who will not be in the Senate next year, is running for Congress. Hill is seeking to replace him in the Senate.
In the announcement, they called on “all elected officials and business leaders in North Florida to stand up for North Florida’s water and North Florida taxpayers.”
The proposal, announced Tuesday by Negron, R-Stuart, would buy sugar-industry land as part of an effort to store and clean water and reduce releases from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries.
The plan would require a 50-50 funding match between the state and federal government to buy the land, with the state’s portion involving the bonding of $100 million annually from documentary-stamp tax revenue in the Land Acquisition Trust Fund. Voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2014 to set aside money in the trust fund for 20 years to finance the purchase and preservation of state lands.
The proposal is intended to reduce the toxic algae blooms that have appeared in waterways in Negron’s East Coast district as a result of the releases from the lake.
In making his announcement, Negron acknowledged that the money would have to come from other parts of the state budget.
Florida Crystals Corp., which is the largest land owner in the parcels targeted by Negron, along with the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida, said in a release they are reviewing the proposal.
A concern for the growers is that more than 100,000 acres have already been removed from farming during the past two decades.
“Taking another 60,000 acres of productive and sustainable farmland out of the EAA (Everglades Agricultural Area) will without a doubt close down our sugar mill and put us out of business,” Barbara Miedema, vice president of the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida, said in a release. “Sen. Negron’s plan means losing a thousand or more jobs in the Glades communities, not to mention the impact to businesses in the community that provide services to us.”
by The News Service of Florida
ECSO Seeks Car Burglary Suspect
August 12, 2016
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is seeking a man caught on camera during a vehicle burglary in the Nine Mile Road area. Investigators say the man stole ammunition, guns and other items Wednesday morning in the 1400 block of Sturbridge Place off Ashland Avenue. Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
August 12, 2016
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending August 4 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Allgood was on water patrol near the Big Lagoon State Park conducting fisheries and boating safety inspections when he observed a vessel with no registration numbers displayed on the starboard side of the vessel. While conducting a boating safety inspection, there were several signs that indicated the operator was impaired. Officer Allgood asked the operator if he would consent to performing the standard field alcohol tasks and the operator agreed to do so. After administering these tasks, Officer Allgood developed probable cause to believe that the operator was in fact operating a vessel under the influence, and the subject was arrested for BUI.
Officers Clark and Manning were dispatched to a civil disturbance in the Little Sabine area. FWC Dispatch advised that a female complainant and her children were being threatened while paddle boarding by a male subject. The male subject was making threatening physical and verbal gestures and during the confrontation, then went to a nearby residence and boarded a vessel. The male subject started to return to where the female and children were, but then decided to exit Little Sabine Bay. The female gave a description of the subject and his vessel. Officers Clark and Manning located the vessel matching the description and made contact with the operator, who was intoxicated and showing multiple signs of impairment. The operator refused to perform the field alcohol tasks. Officer Clark arrested the operator for BUI. The subject later refused to submit to a breath test and was transported to the Escambia County Jail. Additional charges are pending upon completion of the investigation.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officers Hutchinson and Clark were on land patrol conducting fisheries and license checks in the Yellow River WMA. They made contact with a male subject at the end of Log Lake Road who was standing by the river. There was also a running vehicle with a female asleep in the passenger side. He immediately stated he had not been driving. The officers identified the subjects through FWC Dispatch and both subjects had active warrants out of Santa Rosa County. Both subjects were placed into custody and transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail.
Officers Hutchinson and Clark were on vessel patrol conducting boating safety and fishery checks on Blackwater River. The officers observed a male and female fishing from the bank just south of the Shell Pile Boat Ramp. When the officers made contact, there was a bag of white powder and glass pipe in plain view next to the male. During this time, another male had walked over to the area. When the officers identified both males and female, FWC Dispatch advised the female had an active warrant out of Pasco County and the male subject that was not fishing had an active warrant locally. All three subjects were placed into custody. The male that was fishing was charged with possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia. The female and male were charged with active warrants.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
West Florida Public Libraries Announce Summer Reading Club Winners
August 12, 2016
The West Florida Library has drawn the winners for their Summer Reading Club prizes.
Winners are:
Bonus Log Level 1
0-5 years old – Pedal car firetruck – Nicholas Weidner
6-11 years old – Kindle fire – Andres Townsend
12-17 years old – Kindle Fire – Jeremiah Sorrels
Bonus Log Level 2
0-5 years old – Pedal car firetruck – Galen Schwartz
6-11 years old – 20″ Fat tire bike – Cali Zorda
12-17 years old – 26″ Fat tire bike – Maggie Brown
Bonus Log Level 3
0-5 years old – Pedal car firetruck – Evan Hadden
6-11 years old – Recumbent Bike – Amelia Hastings
6-11 years old – Fire truck ride to school (6 winners) – Garrett Wiggin, Elle Houk, Brogan Dougherty, Victoria Coleman, Gavin Bramblett, David Skutt
12-17 years old – Recumbent Bike – Nathan Griffin
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Distributes Chromebooks To Most Students
August 12, 2016
Most Northview High School students received a Chromebook computer on Thursday, but some parents still need to sign off on a contact with the school district.
Principal Gayle Weave said about 425 students received their Chromebook. She said about 100 have not been issued because those parents and students are required to view the district Chromebook Contract Video and must review and complete the online Chromebook Contract.
In order for a student to receive the Chromebook as soon as possible, parents and students can:
Escambia Man Charged In Death Of Toddler Now Facing Second Charge
August 11, 2016
A second charge of aggravated child abuse has been filed on an Escambia County man arrested Monday after police responded to a residence and found a child not breathing.
Alonzo Thompkins, 26, was charged with aggravated child abuse on Monday after a two-year-old male died.
Now, he is facing a second charge after an investigation determined a three-year-old child in the residence had multiple bruises on her body and a broken collar bone.
Police were dispatched to the residence around 9 a.m. Monday after the children’s mother returned home and found her two-year-old son was not breathing. Thompkins had been left alone with the two-year-old male, who was the son of Thompkins’ girlfriend.
The investigation is continuing.
Cantonment Murder Suspect Captured
August 11, 2016
A Cantonment murder suspect was captured Wednesday night in Escambia County.
Marquis Derrell Bryant, 19, was wanted for homicide in connection with the shooting death of 29-year old Alphonso Leon Griffin. Griffin suffered a gunshot wound and was found in the yard of a residence in the 200 block of Sheppard Street in Cantonment just after 9 p.m. on July 23. He was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital where he later passed away.
Bryant was booked into the Escambia County Jail at 10:35 Wednesday night on charges of first degree premeditated murder, resisting an officer without violence and grand theft of a motor vehicle. He is being held without bond.
Bryant was captured by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office just five days before the shooting, but not placed under arrest.
On Sunday, July 17, Bryant allegedly stole a classic Ford Mustang. On Monday, July 18, deputies spotted Bryant in the stolen 1965 Mustang at 3:47 p.m. near Hicks Street and Muscogee Road, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. When a deputy attempted a traffic stop, Bryant refused.
The deputy followed the vehicle, not exceeding the speed limit. Bryant opened the driver’s side door while the vehicle was still in motion. He then jumped from the vehicle and fled on foot.
The Sheriff’s Office said Bryant was located by a K-9 a short time later.
Sgt. Andrew Hobbs, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said deputies suspected that Bryant ingested some type of narcotics before being captured. He was transported to a local hospital for medical care. Hobbs declined to say which day Bryant was released from the hospital, citing medical privacy laws.
Hobbs said deputies submitted a grand theft auto warrant for judicial review. At the time of the murder, the warrant had not yet been signed by a judge.
Century Historic District Homes To Be Repaired, Rebuilt Following Tornado
August 11, 2016
The Century Architectural Review Board gave approval Wednesday to the repair or replacement of almost 30 percent of the residential properties in the Alger-Sullivan Historical District, which has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1989.
The historic district includes 45 buildings on about 230 acres, and is roughly bounded by Pinewood Avenue, Front Street, Jefferson Avenue, Church Street and Mayo Street. Numerous structures in the historic district were damaged or destroyed by the EF-3 tornado that struck Century six months ago.
The Architectural Review Board approved the rehabilitation of four properties — 541 Church Street, 7611 Mayo Street, 601 Mayo Lane and 410 Front Street. They board also approved the demolition and reconstruction of nine properties — 300, 307, 402, 403, 407, 416 and 426 Front Street; and 301 and 351 East Pond Street.
Several of the properties have been approved for SHIP — State Housing Initiative Program — funds, while others are still awaiting approval in what has been a slow process, according to Mayor Freddie McCall.
“A lot of people have wanted to know if I knew what the hell I was doing,” McCall said of the SHIP funding process, which has been managed by Escambia County. “This has been held up on red tape that I have nothing to do with.”
Many of of the funding delays, according to county officials, have been related to legal problems with improper deeds and other incomplete documentation.
Now that the Century Architectural Review Board has signed off on the properties, plans next go to the Century Town Council for approval next Monday night and will next be reviewed by state officials due to the historic district status of the properties.
Pictured above and below: Four of the historic district homes on Front Street that will be demolished and replaced. Pictured bottom: Members of the Century Architectural Review Board (L-R) Gary Riley, Helen Mincy and Edna Earle Barnes. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
