FDOT Takes First Step Toward Dangerous Century Curve Fix
July 13, 2016
The Florida Department of Transportation has taken a first step toward addressing the problem with a North Century Boulevard curve that has seen multiple semi-truck rollovers.
FDOT has covered signage south of the curve that instructed northbound drivers to remain in the right lane.
“I feel like we will see more steps in the near future,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall said. Those steps will likely include a speed limit reduction from 35 to 25 mph for trucks (or perhaps all motorists), signs with to warn motorists and trucks of the tipping hazard, advance warning signage with flashing beacons and perhaps advance warning signage advising trucks to use the inside lane.
Century and Escambia County have both pressed FDOT to eventually fix the elevation problem with the roadway.
Twice last month, semi-trucks rolled over in a curve on North Century Boulevard at Jackson Street. City and county officials believe the curve is badly designed with a slope in the outer lane that is difficult for semis to negotiate at the posted 35 mph speed limit. The amount of lean on an 18-wheeler in the outer lane is demonstrated in the photo below.
Pictured top: The Florida Department of Transportation has covered a sign on North Century Boulevard that instructed trucks to use the right lane. Pictured below: A tanker truck leans as it negotiates a dangerous curve on North Century Boulevard. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Deputies Seek Cantonment Burglary Suspect Caught On Camera
July 13, 2016
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for the man pictured above in connection with a Cantonment burglary. One July 9, he walked up to the front door of a home on Mohegan Circle and rang the doorbell. After no one answered, he entered the residence through the back door of the home. The man was seen wearing camo pants with suspenders and a white t-shirt; he was driving a white SUV. Anyone with information should 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.
Stolen Vehicle Found Submerged In Bayou
July 13, 2016
A stolen SUV was found submerged in an Escambia County bayou Tuesday morning.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team and Escambia Fire Rescue worked to search the bayou of Lillian Highway and Dog Track Road to make sure there was not a victim in the water. Members of the dive team were able to get the tag number from the vehicle, and deputies contacted the owner. She had reportedly been trying to sell the vehicle and had left it with a window down and keys in the ignition.
After the vehicle was pulled from the water, the Sheriff’s Office took the incident as an opportunity to remind residents to lock their vehicles to prevent th
For more photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Man Arrested On Child Porn Charges; FDLE Seeks Additional Victims
July 13, 2016
A Santa Rosa County man has been arrested on child pornography charges, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is search for possible additional victims.
FDLE agents arrested Michael David Braswell, 21, of 4536 Struth LNW, Milton, Florida on one count of promoting sexual performance by a child and one count of possession of child pornography.
FDLE agents began investigating Braswell last month after receiving a tip that he was displaying videos containing images of child pornography to other internet users.
Braswell told investigators he would drive through residential neighborhoods in Milton with the intent to expose himself to children.
The vehicle Braswell used while looking for child victims was a 2002 blue Mercury four door (pictured this page). If you have any information or believe that your child may have been approached by Braswell, please contact the Pensacola Regional Operations Center at (800) 226-8574.
Braswell was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail.
Summer Reading Club Participants Can Win Fire Truck Ride to School
July 13, 2016
Six lucky readers from the Summer Reading Club will have a chance to win a ride to school in a fire truck, followed by fire prevention and safety training for their entire school.
West Florida Library Summer Reading Club participants between ages 6 and 11 who live in Escambia County and have read for at least 50 hours will all be eligible for the drawing for the rides.
Other major drawing prizes include a pedal car fire truck, Fat Tire bicycles and recumbent bicycles. Prize categories start with as little as 12.5 hours of reading.
The winners will be chosen by drawing on July 30.
In the event a winner is chosen who is homeschooled, the ride will be to a fire prevention and safety event at their closest public library.
For more information, contact or stop by your nearest West Florida Library location.
Florida Association of City Clerks Honors Century’s Gonzalez
July 13, 2016
The Florida Association of City Clerks has passed a resolution honoring Century Town Clerk Leslie Gonzalez for serving as their Northwest Florida district director for the past three years. The resolution was recently presented to Gonzalez (pictured left) by FACC’s Linda Bridges. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Shut Out Biloxi
July 13, 2016
Pensacola Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Sal Romano walked into the clubhouse Tuesday with a different attitude.
Entering the game 1-9 this season and 1-14 over the past two seasons with the Blue Wahoos, he figured it was time for a change.
It worked. Romano threw seven scoreless innings, allowed three hits and struck out a season-high nine batters to help the Blue Wahoos blowout the Biloxi Shuckers, 9-0, Tuesday in front of 3,323 at Blue Wahoos Stadium. It’s the largest shutout victory in franchise history.
“I came to the ballpark not thinking about anything, or the fact that I was pitching,” said Romano, ranked the Cincinnati Reds No. 15 prospect by MLB.com. “The biggest thing I did tonight was having fun and relaxing. I’m not a heavy guy. That’s not who I am.”
He also changed his walkup song to Jason Aldean’s “Lights Come On” right before the game, instead of his usual rap music that pumps him up. And he changed lockers with Pensacola center fielder Jeff Gelalich storing his gloves in Gelalich’s locker, while Gelalich put his bats in Romano’s locker.
Blue Wahoos manager Pat Kelly said he has to remind himself every day that Romano is only 22. He improved his record to 2-10 and lowered his ERA to 4.45 this season.
“I have to remind myself he’s just 22-years-old,” Kelly said. “I have to keep reminding myself of that fact. As he matures, he will be able to refine his stuff.”
Speaking of refining, Romano, who has a mid-90s fastball, relies more and more on his changeup. It allowed him to cruise through the first three innings without allowing a hit and striking out the side in the first inning.
The first hit of the game came when Biloxi right fielder Tyrone Taylor’s double to leadoff the fourth inning. Taylor, the Milwaukee Brewers No. 12 prospect according to MLB.com, also clobbered a two-out triple to the right center gap in the sixth inning off of Romano.
“It has become a really good pitch for me,” Romano said. “I didn’t realize how good it was. I never trusted it in any games.”
Pensacola scored five runs on five hits in the first inning, sending all nine batters to the plate. Blue Wahoos center fielder Jeff Gelalich singled on a ground ball to right field and left fielder Phillip Ervin walked. Pensacola right fielder Sebastian Elizalde tripled deep into the left center gap to drive in both Gelalich and Ervin for a 2-0 lead. Blue Wahoos third baseman then hit a grounder to left field that allowed Elizalde to cross the plate, putting Pensacola up, 3-0.
Blue Wahoos shortstop Zach Vincej then smacked a line drive to center field moving Sparks to second base. Biloxi Jorge Ortega then threw a pitch past his catcher and Sparks and Vincej moved up a bag. With two outs, Pensacola catcher Joe Hudson then lined a single to center to drive in Sparks and Vincej to complete the first inning outburst, 5-0.
Pensacola is 14-1 at home when scoring first and 29-7 overall. The team has now won eight of its nine homestands.
“It’s always nice pitching with some cushion,” Romano said.
Biloxi pitcher Jorge Ortega settled down after Pensacola mugged him for five first inning runs, finishing up his start by allowing just two more hits and getting 10 outs in a row. Ortega allowed eight runs in one inning in his last start against the Jacksonville Suns, giving him an ERA of 19.50 in his last two starts. On the year, he has a 5.06 earned-run average and a 1-8 record.
But Pensacola hitters pounded left-handed submarine Biloxi reliever Brett Lee, who played at West Florida High School in Pensacola and was drafted in the 10th round in 2011. In his hometown, Pensacola hitters lit him up in the seventh inning for four runs and three hits in 0.1 innings.
Biloxi reliever Gage Smith didn’t do much better giving up three hits, including two doubles in 1.2 innings.
The heart of Pensacola’s lineup entered the game 0-26 against Biloxi pitching this series. But they more than made up for that Tuesday, driving in six of the Blue Wahoos’ nine runs and scoring four times. Phillip Ervin, the No. 3 hitter in the lineup, was 0-3 entering the game but went 2-4, scored two runs and drove in three with a double in the seventh inning. He also stole his 26th base of the season.
Sebastian Elizalde, batting in the cleanup spot was 0-9 before Tuesday’s game. He was 1-4 with a triple in the first inning that drove in two runs and he scored once.
Taylor Sparks, the No. 5 hitter had gone 0-11, but was 1-4 with an RBI single and a run scored.
“We’ve staggered the lineup a little bit,” Kelly said. “We’re going to swing and miss but we’re also going to get a lot of hits.”
Atmore Prison Escapee Recaptured
July 12, 2016
An inmate that escaped Monday from the Atmore Work Release program was recaptured early Tuesday evening.
Investigators with the Alabama Department of Corrections and U..S. Marshals apprehended Ridgeway after he was sighted in Atmore.
He was serving a 20-year sentence for a 1998 first degree robbery conviction in Mobile County. Officials said Ridgeway will face additional charges for the escape.
Flipped Pickup Slows Nine Mile Road Traffic; Driver Cited
July 12, 2016
A pickup driver was ticketed by the Florida Highway Patrol after rear-ending a lawn service trailer.
The FHP said 45-year old Timothy J. Louviere of Milton was westbound on Nine Mile Road when he failed to maintain his 2000 Ford F-250 in his lane, ran off the roadway and struck the trailer on an unoccupied F-250 truck belonging to a lawn service.
Louviere’s pickup flipped, coming to rest upside down on Nine Mile Road. He was uninjured and cited for careless driving, according to the FHP.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Old Chemstrand Crash
July 12, 2016
One person was injured in a two vehicle crash Tuesday afternoon at Old Chemstrand Road and Highway 95A.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol 62-year old Clara Hallmark of Pace was traveling south on Highway 95A in a 2008 Toyota Camry when she failed to stop for stop sign and crossed into the path of a 1998 Ford F150 driven by Jose Osorio-Dominguez of Pensacola.
Pace was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries. Her passenger, a properly restrained one-year old, was not injured. Osorio-Dominguez and his passenger, 41-year old Jesus Rodriguez LuisAngel, were not injured.
Alcohol was not a factor in the crash, and all parties were wearing their seat belts.
Pace was cited for running a stop sign; Osorio-Dominguez was cited for no driver’s license.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
