Crews Respond To Fires Monday At International Paper
January 24, 2017
Escambia Fire Rescue crews responded to a fire twice Monday at International Paper in Cantonment…the first call just before 5 p.m. and a reflash just before midnight. The fires were reportedly contained to wood chips in an elevated storage bin. There were no injuries reported. The fires did not pose any threat to the public. The fires were not directly related to a Sunday night explosion at the facility, according to a county spokesperson. Pictured: Fire engines arrive at International Paper in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
IP Explosion: Highway 29 Now Open North And Southbound
January 24, 2017
Update 2:00 a.m. Tuesday: Highway 29 is now open northbound and southbound in Cantonment.
Update 8:45 p.m. — ALERT — HIGHWAY 29 Northbound lanes are open, southbound lanes remain closed, with a detour in place.
Update: 12:45 pm. — The Florida Department of Transportation is on scene. Due to the chemical makeup of the material, Highway 29 will remain closed until work crews can wash the roadway. The chemical is of a soap type base chemical, and it is unknown what type of reaction the chemical will have when moisture is introduced. The roadway could become slippery, and cause a hazard to the roadway and motorist. The previous detours will remain in effect.
Due to the explosion at the International Paper Company Plant in Cantonment, Highway 29 is closed between Muscogee Road to the north and Tate Road to the south and Muscogee Road and Jacks Branch Road to the west and County Rd 95A from Woodbury Place to Muscogee Road. At this point there is still no time frame on how long the roadway will be closed for cleanup.
The substance on the roadway is called “Black Liquor”. It is a skin, eye and respiratory irritant. The State Fire Marshall is on scene and there are trucks with sand on standby to begin the cleanup. The Escambia Sheriff’s Office is on scene assisting. Currently FHP personnel assigned to this incident due to road closures.
Related story: No Injuries As Explosion Rips Through International Paper In Cantonment
Related story: All Escambia Schools Are Open On Monday
Related story: Black Substance Covers Area Around Plant
NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Century’s New Mayor Wants To Raise Rates For Water, Garbage And Gas
January 24, 2017
Century’s new mayor says the town needs to raise rates for water, gas and garbage because the town is financially bleeding.
“We need to look at how we do business,” Henry Hawkins said during a Monday night council meeting.
The council approved Hawkin’s request for a new water meter fee. Currently, it costs the town $130 to install a new water meter for a new account. The town will begin charging a $150 fee — in addition to the normal $150 deposit — for new water meters. New water accounts at a location that already has a meter won’t pay the new $150 fee.
Hawkins said he want to eliminate regular sanitation pickups of anything that is not household garbage, limbs or bagged leaves. The town currently picks up bulky items such as couches and appliances for free, but the mayor says that service loses money and needs to be fee based.
“We are shooting ourselves in the foot doing it for free,’ he said.
“They are just going to drive it (discarded furniture) around the corner and dump it,” resident Helen Mincy said. “So what are going to do? Leave it there or pick it up?”
The council has set a 6 p.m. workshop on March 20 to discuss the rate increases.
Pictured top: Century Mayor Henry Hawkins. Pictured below: Council members Kevin Stead, Ann Brooks and Sandra McMurray Jackson listen to Hawkins Monday night. NorthEScambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Citizen Tips Lead To Flomaton Drug Bust
January 24, 2017
Thanks to citizen tips of “high drug activity”, the Flomaton Police Department made a felony drug bust Monday morning.
Methamphetamines and other amphetamines were discovered along with various drug paraphernalia at a home Mize Road. Flomaton Police arrest 35-year old Jonathan Rabon on two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
Rabon was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton.
IP Explosion: Paper Mill Reaches Out To Neighborhood Hit Hardest By Black Liquor
January 24, 2017
International Paper started an outreach program Monday afternoon in the Woodbury neighborhood, one of the areas hardest hit by a chemical mix in a Sunday night mill explosion.
Homes, cars, the roadway, trees — everything in the Woodbury area was covered by mixture of f wood fiber, water and pulping liquor — a black, sticky goo.
IP representatives went door to door to address residents’ concerns, passing out a letter that began with a friendly “Dear Neighbor” salutation. The letter described the powerful explosion as a “manufacturing process incident” that caused the release. (Click the letter image to enlarge.)
The letter explained that anyone having contact with the black liquor should wash the area for 15 minutes with soap and water, and to see a doctor for skin irritation or respiratory issues.
The IP letter also advised residents seeking more information to call (850) 968-4208.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Cheerleaders Headed To State Competition
January 24, 2017
The Tate High School cheerleaders have advanced through the semi-finals on the way to represent the Aggie Nation in Gainesville this weekend for the state championship. Team members are Kearstyn Lile, Taylor Rouchon, Hayden Lindsay, Bailey Carter, Alexis Wilson, Lexi Holley, Payton Herring, Kinsey Gill, Jonah Cass, Brylee Dodd, Krysanne Hagen, Mallory Stephens, Elena Lucci, Emilee Potter, Kennedy Bellard, Shelby Fleming, Blessing Kirk, and Morgan Austin. Coach is Jessica King. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Swears In Council Member Three Weeks After Resignation
January 24, 2017
A Century council member that resigned less than a month ago was sworn in as a council member Monday night for a term that might last just a few week.
Last fall, Ben Boutwell was forced to submit his resignation from the council effective the first of this year in order to run an unsuccessful campaign for mayor. The current council re-appointed Boutwell to succeed himself…for now.
The council seat will be up in a special election in February. Boutwell has already qualified to run for the seat.
Pictured top: Ben Boutwell (center) is sworn in as a member of the Century Town Council Monday night by Town Clerk Leslie Howington and Mayor Henry Hawkins. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Crime Fighting Duo — A Deputy And His Dog — Present Library Program
January 24, 2017
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Joseph Marcum and his K-9 partner Benga took part in a special Community Hereos Story Time Monday morning at the Molino Branch Library. The crime fighting duo taught children about what to do in the event of an emergency. They also demonstrated how they are trained to work together as a team. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
IP Explosion: Monitoring Local Creeks For Chemical Impacts
January 24, 2017
The Escambia County Natural Resources Management Division is implementing a monitoring plan for waterways in the Cantonment area to keep watch from or any possible impact from Sunday night’s explosion at International Paper.
“Chemicals of concern” were deposited on both sides of Highway 29, according to county officials. Highway 29 is located on a ridge that generally divides the two major watersheds — Escambia and Perdido — in Escambia County.
The county will begin a monitoring program in adjacent waterways for indicators for any chemicals from the explosion.
The monitoring will occur at both Eleven Mile Creek (to the west of Highway 29) and Big Rock Creek (to the east of Highway 29) for an increase of pH and/or decrease of dissolved oxygen. Officials said local creeks are generally slightly acidic with a pH around 6.0 and the black liquor has a reported pH of between 12-13.
Preliminary results Monday showed no impact on Eleven Mile Creek; results were not complete from Big Rock Creek. The sampling will continue through a couple of rain events to monitor for any changes.
Pictured top: Crews work to clean Highway 29 and Highway 95A near the International Paper mill in Cantonment on Monday. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
IP Explosion: Tuesday’s Latest On What Happened, The Cleanup
January 24, 2017
International Paper official said Monday that their Cantonment mill experienced significant structural damage to the largest pulp digester as well as the power house during an explosion Sunday night. There were no injuries.
The incident released a mixture of wood fiber, water and pulping liquor into the surrounding community.
Response teams are working with local, state and federal agencies to provide information for those impacted. The company has entered into a “Unified Command” with Escambia County EMA, Escambia County Public Safety, Florida Department of Health, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the EPA. The command worked Tuesday to clear roadways, assess impacted areas, provide direct outreach to more than 40 residents and implement a remediation plan.
IP has hired contractors to develop and implement plans to clean up and dispose of the discharged material as quickly as possible. The company said they are providing all necessary support and resources to the local community and residents as the cleanup continues.
A major part of the cleanup Monday focused on Highway 29 from Woodbury Circle to Muscogee Road. Both lanes of the major north-south artery were closed Sunday night following the explosion. The roadway was covered with “black liquor”, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Black liquor is a skin, eye and respiratory irritant, the FHP said in a news release.
The black liquor was very slick on the highway. Crews worked to spread sand on Highway 29 and then collected a mixture of sand and black liquor from road surface. The roadway was also pressure washed. By about 9 p.m. Monday, over 24 hours after the explosion, the northbound lane of Highway 29 were re-opened as the clean up continued in the southbound lanes. The southbound lanes were open by about 2 a.m. Tuesday.
IP advised that anyone having contact with the discharged material would should wash the affected area for 15 minutes with soap and water. If you are experiencing skin irritation or respiratory issues, see your doctor. Avoid contact with your eyes and mouth. If the materials have come into contact with your vehicle, please thoroughly wash your vehicle and avoid contact with the material.