Ice On Highway 29 Bridge Leads To Fatal Crash, Road Closure
December 9, 2017
Ice on a Highway 29 bridge in McDavid led to two serious crashes Saturday morning, one of which claimed the life of a woman.
The accident happened on the northbound Highway 29 bridge over Mitchell Creek, just north of the McDavid Fire Station about 7:45 a.m. The driver of a car lost control and rotated off the roadway and into the ditch and a large pine tree. A passerby in a SUV reportedly stopped to assist, when the driver of a Ford Ranger, 73-year old Mary Adams of Pensacola, lost control on the ice and crashed into the SUV.
Adams as trapped in the vehicle until being extricated by firefighters. She was later pronounced deceased on scene by Escambia County EMS.
The northbound Mitchell Creek Bridge on Highway 29 was closed after the crash, as was the Canoe Creek Bridge on Highway 29 for well over an hour until a FDOT crew could arrive and spread sand. Due to the traffic crash investigation, only one northbound lane was opened.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Escambia County EMS, the McDavid and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the wrecks.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Snowfall Delivers Rare South Alabama, Northwest Florida Sight (With Photo Gallery)
December 9, 2017
It was a rare sight across the North Escambia area early Saturday morning with a blanket of snow across south Alabama and portion of Northwest Florida.
Snowfall totals ranged from just a dusting in southern Escambia County, FL, to 1.25 inches in Bratt, to several inches in Escambia County, AL.
For dozens of NorthEscambia.com reader submitted photos from across the area, click here for a photo gallery.
To submitted additional photos, email news@northescambia.com or upload on our Facebook or tag @northescambia on Twitter. We expect to publish additional snowfall photos during the day on Saturday.
Pictured: Snow early Saturday morning in Century (top – NorthEscambia.com photo)) and (in order going down the page) Bratt, Cantonment, Molino, Century, Bratt, Poarch, Atmore and Flomaton. NorthEscambia.com and reader submitted photos, click to enlarge.
Trump Brings Tax Cut, Vote For Moore And Thanks Pensacola Message
December 9, 2017
President Donald Trump brought his tax cut message to Pensacola Friday night, along with a special message for Alabama residents — get out and vote for Roy Moore.
It’s was Trump’s fourth visit to Pensacola, but his first as president. And for that, he offered a special thanks.
“Hello Pensacola. What a place! Right here on the Emerald Coast in the great State of Florida where we had a tremendous victory,” Trump said.
“I’ve been here three times, I just keep coming back. When we were doing well all over Florida I said ‘was the Pensacola area included yet?’. They said ‘no’. I said ‘guess what? We just won that election.’,” he said.
Despite multiple allegations of sexual misconduct by the candidate, Trump encouraged Alabama residents to vote for Roy Moore for the U.S. Senate.
“The future of this country can’t afford to lose a seat,” he said. “We want jobs, jobs, jobs. So, get out and vote for Roy Moore.”
Trump also stumped for his proposed tax cut.
“I can’t think of a better Christmas present than a massive tax cut,” Trump stated.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
North Escambia Deputies Contribute To Toy Drive
December 9, 2017
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office “A North Shift” has made their donation to the Magical Christmas Toy Drive.
“We as a shift have been blessed, we hope that some deserving kids can be blessed too” said Sgt. Heath Jackson.
Less than two weeks remain to donate to the Magical Christmas Toy Drive for needy local children. The ECSO has four drop off locations that are open Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.:
- Main Office – 1700 West Leonard Street
- Precinct 1 – 43 Fort Pickens Road
- Precinct 3 – 30 North Navy Boulevard
- Precinct 4 – 97 West Hood Drive
The “A North Shift” deputies work in the Molino, Cantonment and Ensley areas on the midnight shift.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Students Explore Engineering Careers At ECUA Cantonment Facility
December 9, 2017
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, the Escambia County School District, and CH2M welcomed middle school students this week to learn about STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers. This outreach event introduced Escambia County students to the STEM skills and principles needed to pursue engineering careers.
The ECUA/ECSD/CH2M partnership is an opportunity for the three organizations to give back to the community and get students excited about pursuing a STEM career.
ECUA Executive Director, Stephen Sorrell adds, “As a local utility, ECUA strives to contribute and partner with the community wherever possible. We’re excited to share the science and technology behind a public health need that is so basic to all, and to expose students to the possibilities that may be open to them in the STEM fields. The earlier we can engage with and encourage students to consider engineering careers, the better!”
Students from Ferry Pass Middle School visited the ECUA Central Water Reclamation Facility in Cantonment to learn about the science and engineering behind ECUA’s ’s water reclamation process – where the collected wastewater goes and how it is treated and reused. The 3-hour program included presentations from CH2M and ECUA engineers including an interactive 3-D breakout session and a tour of the facility.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule
December 9, 2017
Here is a schedule of Escambia County public meetings for the week of December 11-15:
Monday, Dec. 11
West Florida Regional Planning Council Board Meeting – 3:30 p.m., Okaloosa County Administration Building Training Room, 1250 Eglin Pkwy., Shalimar
Marine Advisory – 5:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex,
3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
Escambia County Legislative Delegation Public Hearing – 5:30 p.m., Pensacola State College Jean and Paul Performance Studio, 1000 College Boulevard
Tuesday, Dec. 12
BCC Committee of the Whole – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place (Agenda)
Co:Lab Policy Board Meeting – 11 a.m., 418 West Garden Street, Pensacola
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
Wednesday, Dec. 13
Transportation Planning Organization – 9 a.m., 913 South “I” Street, Pensacola
Development Review Committee - 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Thursday, Dec. 14
BCC Agenda Review, Public Forum and Regular Meeting – 9 a.m., 4:30 p.m. & 5:30 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place
FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance Board of Directors – 2 p.m., 418 West Garden Street, Pensacola
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Senate Boss Says Florida PIP Repeal Needs To Include Medical Coverage
December 9, 2017
The Senate will consider the merits of repealing Florida’s long-standing requirement for drivers to carry personal-injury protection insurance, but Senate President Joe Negron said it’s important to ensure that any replacement coverage still provides Florida drivers access to medical coverage and funeral benefits.
“I think med pay (medical payments coverage) is an important component that we need to retain in the system,” Negron said Friday in an interview with The News Service of Florida. “It makes sure that an emergency room is compensated when someone appears for care after a motor vehicle accident.”
Moreover, Negron, R-Stuart, said it’s important to maintain a burial benefit.
“I think if a terrible, unspeakable tragedy of someone getting killed in an automobile accident, and the family is having to adjust with that permanent alteration of their reality, to have a modest payment to make sure they can afford a funeral and a burial is not too much to ask. I will not support jettisoning that.”
The Legislature in 1972 passed a requirement that drivers carry $10,000 in personal-injury protection insurance in hopes of limiting the number of lawsuits stemming from traffic accidents. It provides benefits to the policyholder, regardless of who is at fault in an accident.
For health benefits, so-called PIP covers 80 percent of reasonable medical expenses. The benefit is reduced to $2,500 if a treating medical provider determines an emergency medical condition did not exist. PIP also provides policyholders 60 percent of their loss of income following accidents.
In the case of a death, PIP provides the policyholder a $5,000 death benefit.
According to the Office of Insurance Regulation, Florida is one of 10 states to require drivers to carry PIP. Senate Banking and Insurance Chairwoman Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, said one of the first bills her committee will consider when it meets in early January is a PIP repeal (SB 150), filed by Sen. Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa. A House version (HB 19), filed by Rep. Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach, is ready to go to the House floor after the 2018 session starts Jan. 9.
by The News Service of Florida
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary Postpones Christmas Musicals Due To Weather
December 9, 2017
Due to weather, Byrneville Elementary School has postponed their annual Christmas musicals that were scheduled for Friday night.
The musicals will presented by grades K-2 on Tuesday at 9:00 a.m and grades 3-5 on Tuesday 1:00 p.m. A second performance will be held with grades 3-5 on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. and grades K-2 on Wednesday at 1:00 p..m. All performances will be at Byrneville Elementary School.
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Data Breach Could Impact 22K Gulf Power Customers
December 8, 2017
A data breach with a third party vendor may have exposed the personal data of some Gulf Power customers who have paid by check at a local kiosk.
TIO Networks, which was acquired this year by PayPal, has uncovered evidence of unauthorized access to TIO’s network, including locations that stored personal information of some of TIO’s customers and customers of TIO billers.
According to Gulf Power spokesman Jeff Rogers, the data breach impacts customers who paid their bill at a payment kiosk using a check. He estimates about 22,000 of Gulf Power’s 460,000 customers could be affected with unauthorized access to names, bank routing and account numbers and Gulf Power account numbers. Other information, such as credit card and social security numbers were not compromised.
Rogers stressed that Gulf Power did not suffer a data breach. He said the company was being proactive, notifying customers that might be impacted by mailing Gulf Power cover letter and additional information about free credit monitoring from TIO. That letter will go out to customers this week.
School Bus Detouring Around Bridge Closure Involved In Wreck
December 8, 2017
A school bus, detouring around one of many bridge closures in North Escambia, was involved in an accident Thursday morning on a dirt road outside Walnut Hill. There were no injuries to the drivers or seven students headed to Ernest Ward Middle and Northview High School.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 47-year old Paul Ryals of McDavid was driving a 2002 Toyota Tacoma south on South Pineville Road near Ryals Lane as the 2016 Escambia County School District bus driven by Barbara Hollingsworth was traveling north. Both vehicles approached at entered a curve at the same time. The FHP said Ryals failed to to maintain his lane, “causing him to go into the opposite lane of traffic”. The front of the vehicle collided, with $8,000 in damage to the Tacoma and $400 in damage to the bus.
Ryals was cited for failure to maintain lane, per FHP.
School district officials said the bus driver was using South Pineville Road as a detour around a closed bridge on O.C. Phillips Road. South Pineville is a very rural dirt road that is very muddy on rainy days, but is the recommended (and only) detour around the bridge closure.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.