Building People: Tate Senior Millet Earns Eagle Scout Rank
January 12, 2015
Tate High School senior Ethan Millet has obtained the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America, and was honored with a proclamation recently from the Escambia County Commission.
For his Eagle Scout project, Ethan wanted to do something different while giving back to the community. After considering numerous project ideas, he reached back into his experiences at “Joe’s Place”, the Pensacola United Methodist Community Ministries, at his family’s church, St. Luke United Methodist, and decided to distribute personal hygiene kits to needy person in the community.
“We always think about Eagle Scout projects as building something, stepping out and building some tangible thing,” Escambia County Commissioner Doug Underhill said upon presenting the resolution to Ethan. “Ethan’s project was a little unique in that he chose to build people.”
The care kits included a small bag with essential hygiene items, tissue paper, canned foods and water. He set out to make 100 of the kits, but thanks to generous donations was able to distribute just over 200.
“Seeing the joy on their face was probably my favorite part of it,” he said about the care kit distribution. “I remember one man. He grabbed his bag ‘yes, I got it’….he was just so joyous about it; it really made my day to see that.”
Ethan first joined Pack 415 as a Tiger Cub when he was in first grade back in 2003. He earned 32 individual merit badges on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout.
Pictured: Escambia Commissioner Doug Underhill presents a proclamation to Eagle Scout Ethan Millet. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Six Homeless After Halfway House Destroyed By Fire
January 12, 2015
An Escambia County halfway house was heavily damaged by fire Sunday afternoon.
The fire was reported just after noon in the 7300 block of Pine Forest Road, near Five Flags Speedway. Six adults were displaced by the fire, but there were no injuries reported.
A majority of the fire damage was contained to the garage area of the home; two vehicles were also destroyed by the fire.
The cause of the blaze is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
The Ensley, Osceola, Bellview, Brent, Warrington and Beulah stations of the Escambia Fire Rescue battled the blaze, along with the Pensacola Naval Air Station Fire Department.
Photos courtesy Escambia County Professional Firefighters for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lane Closures Planned For I-10 In Escambia County
January 12, 2015
The right lane of eastbound I-10 near the Scenic Highway overpass at exit 17 in Escambia County will be closed from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 13, through Friday, January 16. The nightly closures will allow crews to position large beams for a new Scenic Highway overpass.
In addition, traffic in the left lane of I-10 will be slowed by Florida Highway Patrol escort vehicles between the hours of 12 a.m. and 5 a.m. Drivers should anticipate travel delays during this time.
All planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Four Appointed To Escambia Extension Council
January 12, 2015
Four people have been reappointed to the Escambia County Extension Council.
They are Jean E. Yarter of McDavid, David W. Fitzpatrick of Molino, Tina Lynn Sellers of Pensacola and Genevieve English-Charles of Pensacola. Each will serve through November 30, 2016.
The Extension Council is comprised of members of zones across the county that have an interest or concern in agricultural, family and consumer sciences (home economics), and youth programs of extension; in developing the rural and urban sections; and in developing the county and its resources.
Members may serve a maximum of two consecutive two-year terms before rotating off and must off the council for one two-year term before becoming eligible to serve again.
Man Charged With Murder Following Sunday Night Shooting
January 12, 2015
A Pensacola man was arrested this morning and charged in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred Sunday night.
Nicholas A. Nehring, 23, of the 3300 block of Adrian Road is being held without bond in the Escambia County Jail on an open count of murder.
The victim has been identified as Joseph E. Ross, 26, of Pensacola.
Pensacola Police Department Lt. Chuck Mallett said Nehring was taken into custody as he was leaving his house. Several firearms, including what is believed to be the murder weapon were recovered. Mallett said the shooting, which remains under investigation, is believed to be drug related.
The shooting was reported to police at 8 p.m. Sunday and occurred behind the Corner Store, 3818 North Ninth Ave. Upon arrival, officers found Ross lying on the ground. Nehring was developed as a suspect during the investigation.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1900.
2015 Small Farm Series: Organic Vegetable Production Classes Scheduled
January 12, 2015
UF/IFAS Extension will host a Small Farm Series: Organic Vegetable Production course on multiple dates in January at the UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment.
The series is for farmers interested in learning about small farm organic vegetable production and will combine lecture and hands-on activities with a course notebook.
All classes will be held on the following dates from 6 to 7:30 p.m.:
Thursday, January 15
- What is organic?
- Nutrient management
- Cover crops
- Organic facts and fiction
- How to become a certified organic grower
Thursday, January 22
- Alternative organic pest control
Thursday, January 29
- Cropping Systems
- Disease Control
The cost is $30 per person for the course or $45 for a couple. One notebook per couple. To register call the UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County office at (850) 475-5230 or email Libbie Johnson at libbiej@ufl.edu.
State Report Says Fraud Down In ‘No Fault’ Claims
January 12, 2015
A 2012 effort to reform the state’s “no-fault” auto insurance system has halted the growth of fraud in the system, according to a new state report. But the numbers are still considered too preliminary to show the full impact of the law.
The report by the Office of Insurance Regulation found that since the law (HB 119) went into place on January 1, 2013, there has been a drop in the number of personal-injury protection claims filed and dollars sought.
Meanwhile, the report indicates that claims under other coverage types, such as bodily injury and uninsured motorists, have gone up.
“Overall, there was limited data available to determine the true impact of HB 119,” a release from the Office of Insurance Regulation said. “However, the data call analysis reveals the law has had a major impact on the personal auto market and changed the trajectory of trends being seen prior to its enactment.”
The 2012 law, considered a last-ditch effort to maintain the no-fault system, set benchmarks for insurers to lower rates on personal-injury protection coverage. It required people involved in crashes to seek treatment within 14 days and allowed up to $10,000 in benefits for emergency medical conditions, while putting a $2,500 cap on non-emergency conditions.
Gov. Rick Scott and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater pushed for the law, saying that fraud, primarily in the Tampa and Miami regions, had resulted in the cost of auto-insurance coverage to spike for Floridians.
The report said the average medical cost paid through PIP claims has dropped 14 percent statewide from 2011 to the first three quarters of 2014, with the average payment down 28.7 percent in South Florida in the same time.
by The News Service of Florida
Charges Dropped Against Man For Allegedly Threatening To Kill His Mom Over Her Cooking
January 11, 2015
Charges have been dropped against a 19-year old Century resident who was charged last year with allegedly threatening to kill his mother with a knife because he was upset with the lunch she prepared.
Austin Lane Mosley was charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon following the incident in the 200 block of Hudson Hill Road.
His mother told Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies that she and Mosely got into an argument over the food she had made for lunch, and he grabbed the food and threw it on the floor. As she grabbed her cell phone, Mosley tried to grab the phone and began to swing several punches that missed the 41-year old female, an arrest report states. Mosley then waved what appeared to be a black filet knife at his mother from outside a window, stating that he was going to “filet her open”, the report states.
Could Cameras Be Used To Catch Speeders On I-10?
January 11, 2015
Could cameras be used to catch speeders on I-10? That’s a question Sen. Greg Evers posed this week during a meeting of the Senate Transportation Committee. He wanted to know if all those cameras installed along I-10 for safety could ever be used to crack down on speeders.
Senate Transportation Chairman Jeff Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican who has long opposed local governments using red-light cameras, said he would block any efforts to use fixed electric eyes to nab highway speeders.
Reichert replied that the department hasn’t had such discussions.
“I know some states up in the Northeast are looking into that,” Reichert said. “The discussions, as far as I’m aware, have not been taking place in Florida.”
As Evers appeared ready to press the issue, Brandes cut into the conversation.
“Let me put your heart at rest; not while I’m chair,” Brandes declared.
Last year, Brandes backed a bill — eventually vetoed by Gov. Rick Scott — that would have allowed speed limits to be increased on state highways. Brandes has also attempted legislation focused on repealing the state’s red-light camera law.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Cantonment Cold Case: 1981 Murder Remains Unsolved
January 11, 2015
It was 34 years ago on the afternoon of January 2, 1981, that 9-year old Kenneth Deshun Underwood and three companions went bird hunting in the woods near their Cantonment home. Everyone returned home that afternoon except for Underwood.
When Underwood was still not home around 6 p.m., Escambia County Search and Rescue personnel were called. The area were Underwood was last seen alive was canvassed. His body was discovered about 5:45 the next morning –apparently murdered — in an area near Booker Street.
The case remains unsolved, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for help because they believe someone in our area still has information about Underwood’s death.
If you know anything about the death of Kenneth Deshun Underwood, 9, you are asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (850) 436-9580 or Crime Stopper at (850) 433-STOP (7867).
Pictured above: The fourth grade photo of murder victim Kenneth Deshun Underwood of Cantonment. Pictured below: The highlighted area in this map shows were the body was found. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
