Despite Recent Rain, Drought Conditions Get Worse
December 3, 2016
The showers and thunderstorms across the area earlier this week made little difference in our local drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Escambia County in Florida and the western third of Escambia County in Alabama are in a severe drought, while most of Santa Rosa County and the remainder of Escambia County in Alabama are in an extreme drought.
A total burn ban remains in effect in Alabama as a result of the drought, while the Florida Forest Service has strongly discouraged any outdoor burning.
While not likely to totally alleviate the drought, there is hope for some relief in the form of showers and thunderstorms in the forecast for Sunday night through Monday night. But overall, the drought is expected to continue into winter when below normal rainfall is i the local forecast.
Click graphics to enlarge.
Cantonment Driver Cited In Mobile Highway Crash
December 3, 2016
The Florida Highway Patrol says a Cantonment driver was at fault in a Mobile Highway crash.
According to the FHP, 19-year old Tinea Davis of Cantonment turned her 2013 Ford Fiesta into the direct path of a 2015 Honda driven by 27-year old John Joyner of Pensacola. Joyner was ejected in the crash, which occurred at Mobile Highway and Washbash Street.
Joyner was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with serious injuries. Davis was not injured.
Davis was cited with failure to yield by the FHP.
Local Resident Escapes Gatlinburg Fires
December 3, 2016
A beautiful mountain-view Gatlinburg vacation turned into a horrifying drive for local residentJennifer Ness.
An operator at Gulf Power’s Distribution Operations Center, Ness had to evacuate from the wildfires around Gatlinburg which burned more than 700 buildings and killed at least 11 people earlier this week.
Ness evacuated safely to a nearby hotel and returned home on Tuesday. But she lost all the possessions she had taken except her purse.
“It was definitely a horrific experience,” she said Thursday from her home. “I feel so heartbroken for the community and the people there. It’s just like going through a hurricane and losing everything they have.”
Ness left Sunday to spend a week’s vacation at Westgate Resort, located between Pidgeon Forge and Gatlinburg, where her parents had a timeshare condo. Her best friend, Kathy, was supposed to go, but had to back out so Ness went on her own.
She had never been to the area before and when she arrived late Sunday afternoon, she was amazed at the view.
“The place was amazingly beautiful,” she said. “The condo was incredible and all around the area, they had decorated for the holidays. I was looking forward to sight-seeing and shopping for Christmas.”
But Monday morning, when she went out on the balcony for a cup of coffee, she noticed the smoke. The view was gone and it was hard to breathe.
Ness texted her timeshare host, who told her there was a fire on Chimney Top, a nearby mountain. She instructed Ness to stay indoors until later that Monday afternoon.
Around 2 p.m., she noticed the view had cleared a little, so she went into town, returned to the condo around 6 p.m. and put on her pajamas to settle down for the evening.
Just an hour later, her host called and told her she needed to evacuate.
“She told me to drive as far away as you can,” Ness said. “She reiterated that I need you to leave now. I didn’t realize the extent of how serious it was.”
She put on her clothes, grabbed her purse and got in her vehicle. All four lanes of traffic had been routed to leave town.
The scene on the road was horrific. Embers from the mountain fire had blown down and ignited trees on both sides of the highway. Traffic was bumper-to-bumper and took Ness 45 minutes to get out of the area.
“You could see the flames on the mountain,” she said. “It was an unbelievable site. It seemed like an eternity to get out.”
While she was driving, she called Kathy, who booked her a hotel room in nearby Sevierville. She checked in and then called her family members to let them know she was OK.
Later in the hotel, she saw news video of the resort burning. All that was left standing was an elevator shaft. All her possessions she had brought were gone, including her clothes, a Nikon camera with a zoom lens and her jewelry, including a Pandora bracelet with 24 charms given to her by her children.
The blazes scorched thousands of acres in the resort-heavy area, burning more than 700 buildings in Sevier County, including about 300 in Gatlinburg alone, and injuring at least 74 people, officials said. Ness was one of more than 14,000 tourists and residents that had to be evacuated.
“All the beauty I drove into and then seeing the fires was unbelievable,” she said. “It wasn’t about grabbing my personal belongings. I was thinking about my children, my grandchildren and my mother and to get out safely. It makes you think about the things that are important to you in your life.”
Ness decided to check out of the hotel Tuesday and return so the hotel room would be available for a displaced family. She will return to work next week.
“With our job at the DCC, we’re always the first ones to respond,” she said. “To be on the opposite side as an evacuee was a place I would never want to be again. When I arrived there, I was so excited to be there and experience what my parents love so much. Now, I’m glad to be home.”
Northview Presents Christmas Concert (With Gallery, Videos)
December 3, 2016
The annual Northview High School Christmas Concert was held Friday night at the school. The event featured the Northview concert band, beginner guitar class, monologues from the theater class, vocal soloists and the Ernest Ward Middle School band.
Two video highlights are below: the Northview band with “The Polar Express” (top) and Catie Clayton with “The Christmas Song” (bottom).
NorthEscambia.com photos and video, click to enlarge.
Winning $55K Fantasy Five Ticket Sold In North Escambia
December 3, 2016
Someone is over $55,000 richer this morning after purchasing a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket in Davisville.
The ticket sold at the State Line Gift Shop, 11208 Highway 97, was one of four winning tickets sold for Friday night’s drawing worth $55,345.54. Other winning tickets matching all five numbers were sold in Palm Bay, Beverly Hills and Delray Beach.
The ticket was the third winning Fantasy Five ticket sold this year at the State Line Gift Shop.
The 307 tickets matching four numbers won $115 each. Another 8,873 tickets matching three numbers are worth $11 each, and 88,646 ticket holders won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
Friday’s winning numbers were 16-20-23-28-33.
Dear Santa: Jim Allen Students Present Christmas Play
December 3, 2016
Students at Jim Allen Elementary School presented their Christmas program “Dear Santa” Friday morning.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos by Savanna Calhoun for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Keep The Wreath Green: Fire Destroys Mobile Home, Three Injured
December 3, 2016
A structure fire on the 1800 block of Atlanta Ave. in Pensacola represents the first red bulb on the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety wreath. Escambia County Emergency Communications received a phone call reporting the residential fire at 12:55 a.m. on Friday. Crews arrived on scene at 1:02 a.m. to find a working fire covering approximately half a single-wide mobile home. Two adults and one child were transported to local hospitals in stable condition. The fire was called under control at 1:23 a.m. with the home being deemed a total loss and the Florida State Fire Marshal called to investigate.
The “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign is a collaborative initiative with the city of Pensacola to promote fire safety during the month of December. During the month-long campaign, five-foot wreaths are on display at 18 county fire stations and five city fire stations, with wreaths also placed outside Escambia County’s Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building downtown, the Escambia County Public Safety Building, Pensacola City Hall and Cordova Mall near the food court entrance. Each time firefighters respond to a residential fire with damage, a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by fires in residential home.
Woman Struck By Her Own Vehicle
December 2, 2016
A woman was struck by her own vehicle Thursday in the Bogia community.
The 53-year old woman reportedly exited her vehicle in a pasture to open or close a gate when the vehicle began to roll. She was reportedly struck by the vehicle’s door in the accident, which occurred off Pine Barren Road near Bogia Road.
The woman was transported by Escambia County EMS to Baptist Hospital with injuries that were no considered serious.
The accident is under investigation by Florida Highway Patrol. Further details were not released.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Century Lights Town Christmas Tree
December 2, 2016
The Century Town Council held a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Thursday night at the Nadine McCaw Park. The Byrneville Elementary School Chorus led Christmas carols during the event. The lights are on nightly in the park, which is located on North Century Boulevard at Hecker Road in Century.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Police Cracking Down On Increasing Gun Violence
December 2, 2016
Pensacola Police will be saturating areas within city limits at various times and days in the near future in an effort to address an increase in gun violence.
Since September 11, there have been at least 10 incidents reported where people heard gun shots and/or people were shot.
“We’re doing this because we must remain vigilant in keeping our streets and neighborhoods safe for all of our citizens, especially during the holidays when everyone wants to be able to celebrate with family and friends,” said Pensacola Police Chief David Alexander III. “We’re asking the public to enjoy the holidays and if they see something, to please say something.”
The following are recent gun crimes that currently are under investigation by the department:
- Around 3:20 a.m. September 11 in the area of West Maxwell and North Baylen streets. Police were called after gun shots were heard. Approximately 21 gun casings were found near the intersection; no injuries reported.
- Around 2:35 a.m. September 24 in the area of North Ninth Avenue and Airport Boulevard. A 32-year-old male told police he was driving southbound on Ninth Avenue when he heard several gunshots. He went to a local hospital for treatment of a gunshot in the back of his head.
- Between 9 and 9:10 p.m. October 7 in the 2800 block of North Ninth Avenue. Police were called after gun shots were heard. No injuries were reported.
- Between 5 and 5:30 p.m. October 8 in the 2400 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Police were called after gun shots were heard. A 37-year-old male was found on the ground on the southwest side of the 400 block of East Scott Street. He went to a local hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds.
- Around 7:45 a.m. October 25 in the 6800 block of North Ninth Avenue. Police were called after the body of a 47-year-old male was found outside a business. The man died from a gunshot wound.
- Between 8 and 8:20 a.m. November 20 in the 300 block of North G Street. A 58-year-old male told police he was walking his dogs when a man pointed a gun at him and demanded his money. When the victim began yelling for help, he said the suspect shot him before leaving the area.
- Between 7:20 and 7:30 p.m. November 21 in the 400 block of North DeVilliers Street. Two males ages 26 and 29 were sitting in a vehicle when they were shot and taken to a hospital for treatment. A third male inside the vehicle was not injured.
- Around 10 a.m. November 25 in the area Ninth Avenue and Maxwell Street. Police were called after gun shots were heard. A 29-year-old male was found with a gunshot wound in the area of North Sixth Avenue and East Maxwell Street. The male was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
- Around 2 a.m. on November 27 in the area of Ninth Avenue and Baars Street. Police received multiple calls of shots being fired in the area of Ninth Avenue and Baars Street. No injuries were reported.
- Between 11:40 p.m. and midnight November 28 in the 1300 block of West Cervantes Street. Two 19-year-old males were taken to a local hospital for treatment after they were shot while sitting inside a vehicle. A 16-year-old male who was in the vehicle was not injured.
One outreach effort during the violent crime suppression operation will involve officers on foot patrol in targeted areas to inform the public of the increased police activity and to make contact with residents in the affected neighborhoods.
“We have a zero tolerance approach to violent crimes, said Sgt. Stephen Bauer, who is coordinating the operation for the department.
Officers also will be making targeted traffic stops and conducting field interviews in addition to staying in contact with the public to ensure they are successful in reaching people who need assistance from police.
Anyone having information on the recent shootings is asked to contact the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1900 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP. Callers can remain anonymous.