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.
Scenic Highway Flood Damage Repairs Are Underway
May 15, 2014
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) contractors were set to being the final two reconstruction projects on Scenic Highway yesterday.
The $1.2 million repair project south of Scenic Highway Circle will include the reconstruction of the road, installation of new drainage features and culverts, installation of guard rail and the construction of a retaining wall. The $215,696 project 150 feet north of Baywalk Circle will consist of the reconstruction of the road, installation of new drainage features and culverts and installation of guard rail. The repairs will take an estimated 30 to 40 days to complete.
Recent heavy rains and flooding in the area caused damage to Scenic Highway in several locations, resulting in a partial or total collapse of portions of the roadway. Repairs have already started on other sections of Scenic Highway and the road will remain closed until repairs are complete.
Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flooding Causes Problems In Flomaton
May 15, 2014
Flooding caused problems around Flomaton Wednesday afternoon, closing portions of Highway 31 near Flomaton High School and Upper Creek Road. All roads have since reopened.
Police were asking residents to stay off the roads.
Pictured top: Flooding closed Highway 31 at Flomaton High School with water entering some structures. Pictured below: Flooding on Upper Creek Road near Flomaton. Pictured rest of page: Other Flomaton flooding photos. Photos for NorthEscambia.com from Flomaton PD, Alisa Hart, Brook Mixon and Ashley Hughes, click to enlarge.
Church Destroyed By Fire (With Photo Gallery)
May 14, 2014
Fire destroyed the Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church north of Jay Wednesday.
The fire appeared to begin in the rear of the building and rapidly ripped through the sanctuary. Firefighters from across the area battled the blaze for hours but were unable to save the building. They were reportedly hampered by a lack of an adequate water supply.
Church members gathered and watching helplessly as their church building was destroyed. Many wept, many gathered in prayer for the safety of first responders. Some just stared silently as the fire consumed the building.
The sanctuary, which seats just over 200 people, and adjoining educational space were a complete loss. There were no injuries reported.
The exact cause of the fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office. Church members said a storm with heavy lightning passed through the area just before the storm; many speculated that lightning sparked the blaze.
Firefighters from multiple departments in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida, Escambia County, and the U.S. Navy.
The photos below show the progression of the fire from before firefighters arrived on scene through the collapse of the roof over most of the building.
For more photos, click here for a gallery.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Homeowners File Class Action Suit Laying Flood Damage Blame On International Paper
May 14, 2014
Several homeowners in the Bristol Park neighborhood have filed suit against International Paper over the severe flooding in their neighborhood.
The class action lawsuit, filed Tuesday, claims that a breach in an International Paper levee on Eleven Mile Creek sent a rush of water down the creek, making the flooding far worse.
“We’ve heard stories from people of a large rush of water. When you talk to more and more people there was a sudden increase of water that came into their neighborhoods people were not expecting this and it was rushing through their houses and rushing over their cars,” attorney J.J. Talbott said.
The lawsuit claims that between 10:30 and 11:30 p.m., a large “swell” or “wave” of water breached and overflowed into Eleven Mile Creek, including the Bristol Park and Ashbury Hills subdivisions, Devine Farms Road and other surrounding areas, as a result of International Paper’s dam or levee. Both residential areas are located in “Flood Zone X” on flood insurance maps, meaning they are not in special flood hazard areas and require no mandatory flood insurance.
The failure, the lawsuit asserts, was the result of IP’s negligence in maintaining the Eleven Mile Creek Dam and levee, failure to counteract continued development, failed to control debris buildup in and around the dam, and of a failure to notify those downstream of the potential or ultimate failure of the levee system.
The lawsuit seeks damages for loss and damage to personal and real property, diminished property values, loss of enjoyment, mental anguish, loss of income and additional expenses due to the flooding in the neighborhoods.
International Paper responded to the lawsuit in a written statement released Tuesday afternoon to NorthEscambia.com:
“On April 29, 2014, the Pensacola Mill experienced the storm/flood event that the rest of the county experienced. There was significant erosion and wash-out of an inactive erosion control structure near Kingsfield Road. The structure was previously used to control erosion at this now abandoned outfall point, but it has been out of service since the mill completed transition to the pipeline in October of 2012.
“Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to all those who have been directly affected by the area floods. Many of our team members were impacted by this event. On April 29, record storm water flows from across the entire 48-square mile watershed of Elevenmile creek rapidly exceeded the capacity of the creek. During and after the storm, the Pensacola mill continued to discharge to our pipeline, which bypasses the Elevenmile creek watershed. No part of the mill’s waste treatment facility failed or collapsed during or after the storm event. We have fully communicated with both state and local agencies regarding the impacts of the storm on the Pensacola mill.”
Pictured: Aerial photos provide by Attorney J.J Talbott show what he said is the failure a dam and levee owned by International Paper that allowed flood waters to rush down Eleven Mile Creek. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
