Escambia To Receive Almost $3 Million In Grant Funds For Flood Repairs
February 25, 2015
Escambia County will receive nearly $3 million in grant funding to assist with seven flood repair projects after money became available in the Emergency Watershed Protection Program.
The county had previously applied unsuccessfully to the program, but funding just came available and was announced this week. The County could also be eligible for reimbursement on design costs up to 7.5% of total construction costs, or nearly $224,000.
The EWPP alleviates hazards to life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms and other natural occurrences.
The projects covered under the grant include:
Crescent Lake, one and a half miles east of the intersection of Mobile Highway and Michigan Avenue; 600-feet north of Michigan Avenue. Stormwater toppled the 72-acre Crescent Lake embankment causing flooding downsteam. Flooding deposited sediment and debris to the side of Michigan Avenue, an arterial five-lane road and threatens to destroy 14 apartments. The grant will provide $674,531 to fix the breach in the Crescent Lake embankment and install a concrete emergency spillway. Workers will vegetate disturbed areas and remove debris and sediment from the downstream channel to Michigan Avenue to prevent flooding.
The Gatewood Ditch, south of Gatewood Drive, 400-feet south of Johnson Avenue. Eroding into a retention pond and an adjacent apartment complex. The debris and sediment from the erosion are reducing the drainage capacity and threatening to destroy downstream drainage structures and further damage Johnson Avenue. The grant will cover $350,790 of the cost to fill the eroded area and replace 1,700 feet of concrete-lined ditch. Workers will plant vegetation on the side slopes to protect from further erosion and replace the damaged retention pond outlet, stabilizing the stormwater facility outlet.
Olive Road, 1,000 feet southwest of Scenic Highway and Olive Road intersection. Erosion at the outlet of a concrete-lined waterway carved a gully adjacent to Olive Road 40-foot deep and 100-feet wide that threatens to collapse the westbound lane of Olive Road. Olive Road is a primary east-west arterial with an average daily traffic of 12,800 vehicles. The grant will provide $198,671 to install a concrete box, pipe-drop structure and a water and sediment control basin to stabilize the head of the gully and safely discharge stormwater.
Glyn Brock Gully, 200 feet north of the intersection of Johnson Avenue and Olive Road. Sediment from the Gatewood ditch and storm debris has reduced capacity in the stream channel, threatening to flood eight downstream homes on Winding Lane and five homes on Cypress Point. The grant will cover $206,657 of the cost to remove sediment and debris from the stream channel and ditch and repair the eroded area with rock riprap.
Addison Drive between Addison Drive and Scenic Highway/ Escambia Bay, 300 feet east of Ellyson Field Industrial Park. A gully is eroding into two homes on Addison Drive. The grant will provide $91,868 to remove sediment and debris from the landslide, grade and shape the slope and install a conveyance system to move water to the outlet.
The Ten Mile Creek channel is unstable and widening, threatening to collapse Pine Forest Road Bridge and erode into nine homes and eight townhouses. The grant amount for repairs is $1,377,175. Workers will stabilize the stream channel grade, address gully erosion on the channel sides and repair outlet structures.
Swamphouse Road, on the University of West Florida campus. Stream bank erosion threatens the road, utilities, the Swamphouse Restaurant and Marina. The storm tore the road in half and trees are falling into the stream channel. The grant will provide $83,440 to re-grade the side slope, plant sod and remove sediment and debris from the channel.
Escambia Deputies To Be On TV Show ‘Cops’
February 25, 2015
A ride-along with Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies will be featured on the next new episode of the television show “Cops”. The episode, filmed last year, will air at 7 p.m. Saturday on the Spike network.
Lane Restrictions On Highway 4 In Northern Santa Rosa
February 25, 2015
There will be intermittent lane restrictions on state roadways in Santa Rosa County as crews refurbish pavement markings through March 4.
Work will take place on Highway 4 from the Escambia River to Highway 87A and Highway 87 from Clear Creek to just north of Highway 4 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. daily. Lane restrictions will also be in place on I-10 from Avalon Boulevard to the Okaloosa County line daily from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Off duty law enforcement will be on site to assist with traffic control. Motorists are reminded by the Florida Department of Transportation to use caution, especially at night, and obey the posted speed limit when traveling through a work zone.
McCullough Named Century Chamber’s Student Of The Year
February 25, 2015
Northview High School senior Jessica McCullough has been name the Century Chamber of Commerce’s Student of the Year.The annual selection is based upon a student’s well-rounded involvement in school activities, community service and more. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview JV Beats Baker; Baker Tops NHS Varsity
February 25, 2015
The Northview Lady Chiefs split games with the Baker Gators Tuesday in Bratt.
The NHS junior varsity defeated Baker 8-4, while the Baker varsity downed the Lady Chiefs 3-1 in eight innings.
Northview will host Freeport Friday. The junior varsity begins at 4:00, followed by the varsity at 6:00.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Gary Amerson, click to enlarge.
Scott Suspends 11th Grade English Test
February 25, 2015
Days before testing was scheduled to begin, Gov. Rick Scott issued an executive order Tuesday suspending the administration of an 11th-grade language arts test that Education Commissioner Pam Stewart has asked the Legislature to eliminate.
The move was expected; Stewart had recommended last week that Scott suspend the exam so that lawmakers can consider legislation to permanently scrap it. Critics of the test say it’s redundant because students’ graduation requirements in language arts are fulfilled by an assessment given in the 10th grade.
The state’s largest teachers union, though, said Scott should have done more, even as union leaders conceded they were unsure of the limits of his authority. Officials with the Florida Education Association pointed out that the executive order gets rid of just one of the tests that students face, and they pushed for suspending the entire school-accountability system for a year.
“But we think that the governor ought to have an executive order that delays all of this for a year or two in order to let us try to bring everything together and figure out, is the system that we have in place helping instruction and helping students?” union President Andy Ford said.
In a nod to the fact that the state is introducing a new set of statewide exams this year, the Legislature has already given public schools a reprieve from consequences that might have followed poor marks on the annual school report card. But schools will still be given letter grades, students could still be retained in third grade if they don’t pass a state test, and teachers will still see part of their job evaluations based on student performance.
Ford said the state should treat this year’s exams as a “field test” to work out any kinks.
“We should still go ahead and administer the test, but we shouldn’t have the consequences for that,” he said.
Speaking with reporters Tuesday afternoon after a roundtable discussion with local teachers of the year, Scott indicated he wasn’t interested in a delay.
“We all know that when we measure something, there’s a greater chance that we’re going to take it seriously and we’re going to improve,” he said. “I believe our teachers are going to do well. I think our students are going to do well.”
Stewart also recommended curtailing some other local and statewide tests in her report last week, but much of the testing that the state requires would remain in place. Lawmakers plan to pass legislation dealing with assessments during the 60-day session that begins next week.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Tate’s Football Season Opener Not In Biloxi After All
February 25, 2015
The Tate High School Quarterback Club announced Tuesday that the school’s football season opener won’t be on the road after all. Instead, Biloxi High School will travel to Pete Gindl Stadium in Cantonment for the first game of the season on a to be announced date
The Aggies full 2015 season schedule is expected to be announced soon.
No Serious Injuries In Hwy 29, Neal Road Accident
February 24, 2015
There were no serious injuries in a two vehicle crash Tuesday afternoon at Neal Road and Highway 29 in Cantonment. The accident is under investigation by the Florida highway Patrol. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Northview Celebrates National FFA Week With Breakfast
February 24, 2015
FFA members at Northview High School are celebrating National FFA Week with a variety of events.
Tuesday morning, the FFA officers and members prepared a homestyle breakfast for teachers, staff and invited guests that support the FFA program. Northview’s FFA program has been recognized as one of the top chapters in both the state and the nation.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
State Attorney To Appeal Sentence That Allows Sex Offender Doc To Remain Free
February 24, 2015
[Updated] An Escambia County doctor, Brian Mitchell Lee, was designated as a sex offender and sentenced Monday afternoon by Judge Terry Terrell to two years of community control and 13 years probation. The 43-year old was convicted of traveling to meet a minor to engage in sexual contact, unlawful use of a two-way communication device to facilitate the commission of a felony and using a computer to solicit the sexual conduct of a child.
Tuesday afternoon, State Attorney Bill Eddins announced the state will appeal the sentence.
“In this case, the statutory guideline recommended sentence called for a sentence of 45 months in State Prison. The Court deviated from this recommendation and imposed a sentence of two years community control followed by thirteen years of probation. In order for a Court to deviate below a guideline recommendation, the Court must give written reasons to justify such deviation. It is the position of the State in its appeal that the reasons given for the deviation are legally insufficient,” according to a statement released by Eddins’ office.
Evidence presented at trial established that on December 22, 2013, an undercover law enforcement officer responded to Lee’s Craigslist ad seeking sex from “younger fit men.” Between December 22, 2013 and January 2, 2014, Lee engaged in sexually-explicit email conversations with who he believed to be a 14-year-old boy. On January 2, 2014, Lee traveled to a local bowling alley for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct with the teenage boy. Law enforcement arrested Lee upon his arrival. In addition, in an email admitted at trial, Lee wrote that he has “always been attracted to adolescent males”.
According to the sentence imposed by Terrell, Lee will be allowed to continue his medical practice at Perdido Bay Family Care, but won’t be allowed to treat any juvenile patients without another medical professional’s presence. He will also be required to seek treatment as a sex offender.