FHP Seeks Clues In Ensley Hit And Run Crash
April 28, 2016
The Florida Highway Patrol is looking for clues in a hit and run accident Wednesday afternoon in Ensley.
According to the FHP, the driver of a Toyota Camry ran a stop sign at Hannah Street and Palafox Street, hitting a 2004 Nissan Titan driven by 29-year old Isai Chino Clemente of Pensacola. The Camry continued on past the collision, striking a fence.
Clemente was transported to West Florida Hospital with minor injuries.
The driver and passenger of the Camry fled the scene east on Hannah Street. Both were described as black males in their late teens to early 20’s.
Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call (850) 484-5000 ext. 330 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Firefighters, Mother Nature Fight Brush Fire
April 28, 2016
Volunteer firefighters had a little help from Mother Nature in extinguishing a brush fire near Walnut Hill late Wednesday afternoon.
The Walnut Hill and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were dispatched to the fire burning in a wooded area adjacent to railroad tracks and South Highway 99, just south of Eicher Road. Heavy smoke hampered travel on South Highway 99 during the initial attack on the fire.
A passing thunderstorm dumped heavy rain on the fire a short time later, extinguishing most of the flames.
Pictured: Firefighters battle a fire in a wooded area as smoke obscures South Highway 99 near Walnut Hill Wednesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Man Dies In Traffic Crash Near 10 Mile Road
April 28, 2016
A Pensacola man was killed in a traffic crash Wednesday night.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 24-year old Aaron James Streeter of Pensacola died when he lost control of his 1998 Ford Ranger on Holsberry Road south of Ten Mile Road. The FHP said he was traveling north on Holsberry when his truck left the right shoulder of the road and struck a mailbox before hitting three parked vehicles.
Streets was not wearing his seat belt, according to the FHP.
Opponents Take Aim At ‘Docs V. Glocks’ Law
April 28, 2016
Doctors and physician groups filed an 86-page brief this week asking a federal appeals court to reject a controversial Florida law that would restrict doctors from asking questions and recording information about patients’ gun ownership.
The brief came as the full 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals prepares to hear arguments June 21 about what has become known as the “docs v. glocks” law. The state filed a brief last month urging the court to uphold the law.
The plaintiffs’ brief filed Monday argued, in part, that the 2011 law violates the First Amendment rights of physicians to discuss safety-related issues with patients.
“In (the law), the Florida Legislature does what no legislative body has done before or since; it prevents doctors from providing patients with truthful advice to keep their families healthy and safe — speech that is recommended as standard protocol by national medical associations,” the plaintiffs’ brief said. “If (the law) is allowed to stand, it sets precedent for states, at the bidding of other industries or special interests, to prevent doctors from speaking to patients about risks posed by other dangerous products or activities. The First Amendment does not allow the state to single out and censor one topic (firearms), or one group (doctors, or patients), or to so interfere with the doctor-patient relationship.”
The full appeals court agreed in February to take up the case, after a three-judge panel issued three rulings upholding the constitutionality of the law.
The law, backed by groups such as the National Rifle Association, includes a series of restrictions on doctors and other health providers. As an example, it seeks to prevent physicians from entering information about gun ownership into medical records if the physicians know the information is not “relevant” to patients’ medical care or safety or to the safety of other people.
The NRA filed a friend-of-the-court brief last week that said it championed the law after members were asked intrusive questions about gun ownership during visits to doctors’ offices. The NRA brief described the law as “a modest regulation of the medical profession that does not infringe upon First Amendment rights.”
by The News Service of Florida
Repairs Completed To Jay Power Substation After Major Fire
April 28, 2016
The power supply is back to normal for Jay area residents.
Fire damage to a power substation that serves the Jay area was extensive on April 3. It was estimated that it would take six weeks to bring the destroyed substation back online.
PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, owners of the substation and power suppler for Escambia River Electric Cooperative, brought in a mobile substation to provide power to Jay.
Wednesday, just over three weeks after the fire, repairs to the substation were completed and EREC members’ power was switched from the mobile substation back to the repaired Jay substation. The switch was made “hot”, with no disruption of electric service.
Pictured: PowerSouth crews switch EREC members Wednesday afternoon from a mobile substation back to the Jay substation after repairing extensive fire damage. Pictured below: Fire damage to the substation back on April 3. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Wins Regional Quarterfinal
April 28, 2016
The Tate High Aggies won the regional quarterfinal Wednesday night 4-2 over Navarre. The Aggies are headed to the regional semifinals as they host Milton on Tuesday.
Trace Penton gave up just two hits, allowed no earned runs, walked one and struck out two during his three innings of work. Jake Davis pitched the win. He allowed two runs over four innings. He struck out three, walked two and surrendered three hits.
Tate hitters – Mason Land 2-3 R; Logan McGuffey 1-2 HR, RBI, R; Logan Blackmon 1-3 RBI.
Fire Destroys Escambia Home
April 27, 2016
The cause of a Wednesday morning fire that destroyed an Escambia County home is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
The blaze in the 200 block of Hansen Boulevard, off Highway 29 near Brentwood Elementary, was reported about 8:40 a.m. The home was mostly involved in flames when the first firefighters arrived on scene.
They were able to quickly extinguish the fire. There were no reported injuries.
It was not immediately known if anyone lived in the structure.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Facing Felony For Unlicensed Contracting During State Of Emergency
April 27, 2016
A Molino man has been arrested for allegedly acting as a contractor without a license during the state of emergency that was declared following the February tornadoes.
Kenneth Brian Malarik, Sr, was charged with felony unlicensed contracting during a state of emergency, felony grand theft and unpermitted construction. The charges were directly filed by the investigative division of Escambia County Building Services Building Code Enforcement.
On February 23, Malarik, 51, allegedly entered into a written contract and accepted a $5,841 down payment to build an outdoor pergola at home near Pine Forest High School. He never finished the work, according to an arrest affidavit, after the homeowner demanded a copy of a building permit. He never returned to the jobsite, and his tools where retrieved by an employee, the affidavit states.
Escambia County’s building officials reported that they attempted unsuccessfully to reach Malarik by certified mail and email. A records search determined that Malark is not licensed by the county or state as a general, building or residential contractor.
At the time Malarik was working on the pergola, Escambia County was under a declared state of emergency due to the tornadoes that struck the Century and Ferry Pass areas. The pergola construction was not in an area damaged by either tornado.
Malarik was released from the Escambia County Jail Tuesday afternoon on a $5,500 bond.
Healthy Start: Signs Of Recovery In Century
April 27, 2016
Contractors have started work on tornado repairs to two buildings in Century used by the Healthy Start program.
The roof of the Healthy Start building at 511 Church Street was damaged during the EF-3 tornado that tore through Century on February 15. The county-owned building was cleaned, dried out and temporary tarps were put in place. The tarps were no match for Easter weekend winds and rain, with water once again pouring into the building.
Healthy Start moved next door to another county-owned building at 501 Church Street, a building that Healthy Start had already leased but had not yet been renovated. The building is former location of the Health and Hope Clinic.
Century site manager Laura Nelson said all Healthy Start services, including WIC and patient visits by Jay pediatrician Marian Stewart, have continued at the new location.
Tuesday, contractors were busy removing water damaged furniture from the Healthy Start building at 511 Church Street, while additional crews were hard at work putting new roof on the former Health and Hope building at 501 Church Street.
Pictured: Contractors were working hard Tuesday at two county-owned buildings used by the Healthy Start program in Century. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward’s Dive Team Places At County Championship
April 27, 2016
The Ernest Ward Middle School Dive Team earned a second and a 10th place finish during the Escambia County Diving Championships at Washington High School.
The Ernest Ward Dive Team consisted of just two team members — Jayda Crabtree and Louis Crabtree III. Jayda placed 2nd, with a total score of 154.95. Louis placed 10th with a score of 114.60. Their scores will be added to Ernest Ward’s County Girls and Boys Swim Teams final score.
There were a total of 29 divers in the competition.
Pictured: Ernest Ward Middle School Dive Team Coach Randy Sanderson, Jayda Crabtree, Coach Betty Coon, Louis Crabtree III. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.