Shoulder Of Highway 97 In Walnut Hill Collapses Into 50-Foot Deep Gully
May 15, 2014
A portion of Highway 97 in Walnut Hill has collapsed in an existing 50-foot deep gully.
The travel lanes of the highway are still intact at the site and the road is still open, just north of South Highway 99 and about mile south of Ernest Ward Middle School. But the shoulder of the road is now at the bottom of the gully.
It appears a large drainage pipe traveled under Highway 97 to the site of the collapse and then curved downward along the bank of the gully where it was designed to drain at the bottom. But the pipe apparently separated under the shoulder of the roadway, just beyond a guardrail, and blew out and undermined the shoulder of the road.
The collapse apparently happened during heavy rains late Wednesday afternoon and was discovered overnight.
Florida Department of Transportation contractor Transfield Services inspected the collapse Thursday morning and determined that it is safe for both lanes of Highway 97 to remain open.
Pictured above and below: A drainage pipe failed and a portion of the shoulder of Highway 97 collapsed into a 50-foot deep gully. The bottom photo shows the dirt from the roadway shoulder at the bottom of the gully. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Chemical Tanker Driver Sentenced For Driving Drunk On Highway 29
May 15, 2014
A Milton man has been sentenced to jail for being drunk while driving a chemical tanker truck along Highway 29 in North Escambia.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said a citizen’s tip about 5:30 a.m. on January 14 about a trucker driving erratically led to deputies stopping the northbound tanker truck full of maleic anhydride on Highway 29 near Tedder Road, just south of Century.
The driver, 35-year old Alex Victorovich Kozlov of Milton exhibited odd behavior and an odor of alcohol was detected by deputies, the Sheriff’s Office said. He failed a field sobriety test and was arrested for driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage with a blood alcohol level greater than .15. Deputies reported finding a half empty body of vodka in the cab of the truck.
Kozlov was convicted of the charges against him and sentence by Judge Darlene Dickey to nine months in the Escambia County Jail and 50 hours of community service. His driver’s license was also suspended for 12 months.
Maleic anhydride is the acid anhydride of maleic acid and is used primarily in the formation of unsaturated polyester resins for use in boats, autos, trucks, buildings, piping, and electrical goods. It is also used to make pesticides and other organic compounds, according to the EPA. Acute inhalation exposure of humans to maleic anhydride has been observed to cause irritation of the respiratory tract, burning in the larynx, reflex cough, lacrimation, headaches, eye irritation, and corneal burns.
One Minor Injury In Cantonment School Bus Wreck
May 15, 2014
There were no serious injures in a school bus wreck Wednesday afternoon in Cantonment.
The Florida Highway Patrol said there were 19 passengers on the Malena’s Mini School Bus as it traveled south on Ashton Brosnaham Road from McArthur Elementary School. That’s when 41-year old Earl Cornell turned his 1999 Chevrolet van into the path of a 2002 Pontiac car driven by 31-year old Lesley Davis of Pensacola, according to troopers. That caused Davis’s car to strike the bus, driven by 51-year old Latanya Davis of Cantonment.
Lesley Davis received minor injuries and was transported to West Florida Hospital. There were no injuries among the other drivers or 19 bus passengers.
Cornell was cited by the FHP for making an improper left turn.
NorthEscambia.com reader submitted photo, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Elementary, Church Team Up For ‘Free Yard Sale’ For Flood Victims
May 15, 2014
The First Baptist Church of Cantonment will have a “Free Yard Sale” on Saturday.
The church and Molino Park Elementary School teamed up to collect items…all of which will be free for flood victims to stop by and get what they need. The “Free Yard Sale” for flood victims will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Cantonment at 118 Morris Avenue.
Available items include clothes, shoes, new undergarments, bedding, nonperishable food and toiletries.
For more information, call (850) 968-9135.
Home Wrecker: Driver Slams Into Dealership Mobile Home
May 15, 2014
One person was injured when they crashed their car into and under a mobile home on a dealer’s lot late Wednesday afternoon just off Highway 29 in Cantonment. Their injuries were not considered serious. Further details, including the cause of the accident and the driver’s name, have not yet been released by the Florida Highway Patrol. Photos by Shane Carter (top) and Kristi Smith (inset and below) for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia, Santa Rosa Approved For Federal Public Assistance For Infrastructure
May 15, 2014
Federal Public Assistance has been granted for Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties. Public Assistance funding will aid \ local governments in rebuilding infrastructure after severe storms and flooding impacted their Florida communities.
Public Assistance provides aid to state or local governments to pay part of the costs of rebuilding a community’s damaged infrastructure. Generally, public assistance programs pay for 75 per cent of the approved project costs. Public Assistance may include debris removal, emergency protective measures and public services, repair of damaged public property, loans needed by communities for essential government functions and grants for public schools.
Public Assistance from the federal declaration comes in conjunction with the earlier approval of Individual Assistance for Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, that was granted on May 6, and for Okaloosa and Walton counties on May 12. Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the those counties can continue applying for assistance by registering online at http://www.disasterassistance.gov, by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired.
Pictured: A damaged Escambia County roadway. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
County To Seek New Doctors To Deal With Jail Explosion Victims
May 15, 2014
A total of 184 inmates and corrections staff members were taken to several local hospitals on the night of the explosion at the Escambia County Jail’s Central Booking and Detention Facility.
County official said anyone expressing a medical concern following the explosion was taken to area hospitals for medical care. In some cases, after being returned to Escambia County Corrections, some inmates have requested and been given return trips to local medical providers for follow up on any issues or concerns they had about their medical well being.
Last week, Corrections Director Gordon Pike met with jail doctors (one who handles physical issues and one who handles mental health issues), the Escambia County budget office and the Human Resources staff.
That meeting, according to Escambia County, ended with two goals:
- To solicit additional doctor to work at the jail to address any lingering physical issues that may have been caused to an inmate the night of the explosion. Jail leaders hope to have a contract for this physician signed by the end of the week.
- To solicit a mental health doctor to address any/all mental health concerns of inmates and their families. An additional six staff members will be brought on to help address these concerns. The purchase order for these six counselors has been signed and jail officials are working to create a schedule for these new additions.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Photo: Amber Waves Of Grain, Purple ‘Mountains’ Majesty
May 15, 2014
An afternoon of heavy rain across the North Escambia area Wednesday gave way to a beautiful sunset above wheat fields in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
SBA Disaster Loans Available In Escambia, Santa Rosa, Alabama Too
May 15, 2014
The U.S. Small Business Administration adds more counties to the disaster declaration due to severe storms, tornadoes, high winds and flooding that occurred on April 28 through May 6, 2014 in Florida.
The disaster declaration now covers Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties in Florida which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA.
Small businesses and most private non-profit organizations in the following adjacent counties are ligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Bay, Holmes, and Washington in Florida; and Baldwin, Covington, Escambia and Geneva in Alabama.
The Business Recovery Center in Pensacola will open Thursday, May 15th to provideone-on-one help to business owners seeking disaster assistance. SBA’s customer service representatives will be on hand at the Center to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program and help business owners in applying for assistance.
“Businesses with physical damages or disaster-related working capital needs should seriously consider visiting the Center and applying for a low-interest SBA disaster business loan,” said Wilfredo Gonzalez, SBA’s North Florida district director.
The Center is located and opening as indicated below, until further notice:
Escambia County
Greater Pensacola Chamber
117 West Garden Street
Pensacola, FL 32502
Opens: Thursday, May 15 at 8 a.m.
Hours: Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., until further notice
Closed: Saturday and Sunday
SBA disaster loans are available to homeowners and renters, businesses of all sizes and most private non-profit organizations to cover uninsured losses from the disaster. Interest rates are as low as 2.188 percent for homeowners, 4 percent for businesses and 2.625 percent for private non-profit organizations. Loan terms can be up to 30 years.
“SBA disaster loans offer an affordable way for those affected by the disaster to pay for disaster related losses,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.
Wahoos Win Rain Shortened Game
May 15, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (18-22) defeated the Birmingham Barons (16-23), 3-2, in a rain-shortened contest at Regions Field in Birmingham. The Wahoos scored in the top of the fifth thanks to a Juan Silverio RBI double and the Barons would only get one more opportunity as the game was called due to rain in the middle of the sixth inning.
RHP Mikey O’Brien made the start for the Wahoos and earned his second win of the season. O’Brien allowed 2 R/0 ER on five hits and struck out two batters through 5.0 innings. The right-hander has lowered his ERA from 5.25 to 3.33 over his last three starts. RHP Terry Doyle took the loss for the Barons. Doyle pitched 6.0 innings and gave up three runs on eight hits.
Silverio led the Wahoos with two doubles and two RBI. Left fielder Donald Lutz hit his first home run since April 24th, a solo shot that put the Wahoos ahead in the first inning. Yorman Rodriguez had his third multi-hit game in a row and hit his first double since coming off the disabled list.
Birmingham’s Rangel Ravelo and Josh Richmond had a hit and an RBI each. Shortstop Jaime Pedroza went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
The Wahoos return to Pensacola Bayfront Stadium for a 10-game homestand on Thursday. The Wahoos take on the Jacksonville Suns in the first five-game set. RHP Daniel Corcino (3-3, 3.97) will start for the Wahoos and RHP Jose Urena (3-2, 5.63) will go for the Suns.