One Killed In Early Morning Fiery Century Crash
February 22, 2014
One person died in a fiery single vehicle accident early Saturday morning.
The burning vehicle was discovered by a passing Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy about 3:55 a.m. on Fannie Road just northeast of Campbell Road, across from the Happy Valley Holiness Church.
After the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue extinguished the blaze, the victim was discovered in the driver’s seat area of the vehicle.
The Florida Highway Patrol has identified the vehicle as unknown year model Toyota sedan
The driver was apparently headed east on Fannie Road when they failed to negotiate a curve, ran off the roadway, down an embankment and struck several trees on the shore of a gravel lake. A post-crash fire completely gutted the vehicle
The Florida Highway Patrol was unable to identify the driver of the vehicle at the scene. Further details have not yet been released as the FHP continues their investigation.
Pictured top an inset: One person was killed in this fiery crash in Century early Saturday morning. Pictured below: The vehicle shortly after the fire department extiniguished the blaze. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cutbacks: Reduced Service Hours Begin For McDavid Post Office
February 22, 2014
The U.S. Postal Service will being reduced retail hours today for the McDavid Post Office. The retail window will actually be open earlier and stay open later on weekdays while reducing service hours by five.
The new hours for the McDavid Post Office, effective February 22, will be 7-11 a.m. and 2-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8-10 a.m. on Saturdays. The post office’s retail window was previously open 7:45 -11 a.m. and noon – 3:45 p.m. during the week and 7:45 to 9:45 a.m. on Saturdays. Access to post office boxes will remain 24/7.
Residents and businesses in the 32568 zip code were notified in December that the Postal Service will take future action regarding the McDavid Post Office. They were surveyed with 77 percent of respondents choosing a reduction in hours over other options including closure.
About two dozen people attended a public meeting with postal officials on January 16, at which time they were reassured that the McDavid Post Office would remain open.
There are no plans to make any changes at the Walnut Hill Post Office, which shares McDavid’s 32568 zip code. The Walnut Hill Post Office is a contract location operated by Escambia River Electric Cooperative, providing retail window services and post office boxes.
The McDavid Post Office was the only local post office in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties on the current closure or cutback list.
Pictured: The McDavid Post Office. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
‘Golden Cow Dung Award’ Presented To Barbara Ryals
February 22, 2014
Ernest Ward Middle School employee Barbara Ryals received the sixth annual “Golden Cow Dung Award” from members of the Ernest Ward FFA. The award presented Friday afternoon featured a large piece of cow dung, painted a golden color and mounted on a board painted in school colors.
(Cow dung, in case you did not know, is what you are probably thinking it is. It’s that natural byproduct that cows drop in the field. The award is 100 percent real dung spray painted a golden color. The golden piece presented Friday is actually the first award piece created six years ago.)
Ryals received the award from the school’s FFA members as a “thank you” for supporting FFA. The same Golden Cow Dung Award was presented last year to faculty member Betty Coon. Previous awards were presented to history teacher Kenneth Hicks, teacher’s assistant Lindsey Kelley, Family & Consumer Science teacher Kathy Ellis and Principal Nancy Perry.
More than half a million members around the nation participated in National FFA Week activities at the local and state levels this week.
Pictured: Ernest Ward Middle School FFA Golden Cow Dung Award presentation to Barbara Ryals Friday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Charged With Ensley Homicide
February 22, 2014
An Escambia County man has been arrested in connection with a murder in Ensley last year.
Trevor Jerrod Jones, 21, has been charged in the death of 31-year old Houston Hale Parker. Parker was found deceased September 17, 2013, at the corner of Hayworth and Lengo streets.
Investigators said forensic evidence and interviews led to the arrest. Additional details have not been released. Jones is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
NHS Dance Team Qualifies For State With Superior Rating
February 22, 2014
The Northview High School Dance Team was rated Superior at the Florida Bandmasters Association District 1 Auxiliary Solo and Ensemble MPA event Friday night at Gulf Breeze High School. With the top rating, the group qualified to attend the upcoming state competition. Pictured: Northview High School Dance team members are (front L-R) Danielle Scott, Bethany Reynolds, Morgan Digmon, Shelby Nielson, (back, L-R) Leah Fischer, Anna Fischer, Rebekah Sepulveda, Chloe Leonard, Lily Townson and Jessica Lowery. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview’s Thomas Inks Graceland Football Scholarship
February 22, 2014
Northview High School senior La’Quan Thomas signed a football scholarship Friday with Graceland University, a NAIA school in Iowa. Graceland University is a private liberal arts university of about 2300 students and 150 faculty. Pictured top: Thomas signs his college scholarship as family members look on Friday morning. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Animal Services Advisory Committee To Hold Special Meeting
February 22, 2014
The Escambia County Animal Services Advisory Committee has scheduled a special meeting for Thursday, February 27, at 5:30 p.m., and will be held at the West Florida Public Library System’s Main Library in meeting room C, 239 North Spring Street, Pensacola.
The purpose of this special meeting is to review a draft amendment to Escambia County’s animal control ordinance.
Scores: Baseball Wins For Tate JV, Flomaton; Softball Wins For Northview
February 22, 2014
In junior varsity baseball, Tate downed Northview 10-4. Tate took an 8-0 lead early in the game, with the Chiefs coming up short after rallying to score four runs in the fourth inning. The JV Aggies will host Washington at 4:30 next Tuesday, while the JV Chiefs will host Flomaton in Bratt at 4:00 Monday.
The Flomaton Hurricanes shut out Escambia County High School of Atmore Frida, 15-0. The ‘Canes will travel to Bratt on Monday to face the Chiefs of Northview. T he JV takes the mound at 4:00, followed by the varsity at 6:00.
In softball action, the Northview junor varsity beat Baker 12-5, the varsity Chiefs beat the Gators 8-6. In varsity action, Mallory Ryan recorded five strikeouts and 16 hits for the Chiefs. The Chiefs hit the road on Monday to take on Holmes County.
Pictured: The JV Tate Aggies defeated the Northview Chiefs Friday night 10-4. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
High Winds Topple 18-Wheeler, Cause Extensive Damage To Farm, Barns
February 21, 2014
Early morning storms left damage south of Walnut Hill early Friday morning, including an estimated $100,000 in damage to one local farm.
At a home and surrounding farm at the end of Mason Road just off Highway 97, there was extensive damage to multiple metal barns, storage sheds and farm equipment. Roofs were ripped from barns, barn doors were ripped open, farm equipment was tossed about and tractors were damaged by debris. The roof was lifted from a cottage, and large oak trees were splintered and uprooted.
Several items that did not belong to the farm were in a pasture, including a baby mattress and a Salter’s Lake Road street sign. The origin of the street sign was not immediately known….there did not appear to be any missing signs on Salter’s Lake Road near Century this morning, and there was no storm damage in that area.
An 18-wheeler parked at the intersection of Highway 97 and Tungoil road was flipped onto its side and into a field. Power lines in the area were twisted around power poles and downed across the highway. Street signs were knocked over, and several pine trees in the area were snapped off several feet into the air.
At least three other homes between Tungoil and Mason Roads had damage…including downed trees and damaged outdoor sheds.
The exact time the damage occurred was not known; however a tornado warning was issued for the area. At 2:57 a.m. National Weather Service Doppler Radar indicated a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado about 10 miles northwest of Molino…very near the Highway 97 and Tungoil Road area. But officials said late Friday afternoon that the damage appeared to be from powerful straight-line winds and possibly a microburst.
Hundreds of EREC and Gulf Power customers lost power in the storm. In the largest outage, Gulf Power reported about 420 customers along and near Highway 97 from Gibson Road south across Highway 29 without power.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Woman Gets 11 Years For I-10 DUI Hit And Run
February 21, 2014
A Milton woman was sentenced Thursday to just over 11.5 years in prison for the DUI manslaughter traffic death of a Pace man last April on I-10.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 26-year old Brianna Lynn Strum of Milton was charged with DUI manslaughter, DUI serious injury, DUI property damage, leaving the scene of a crash with death and leaving the scene of a crash with serious injury following the 3 a.m. April 28, 2013, wreck on I-10 near Scenic Highway.
Strum was traveling east on I-10 in a 2007 Honda Odyssey when she failed to see a 2013 Dodge Charger in front of her. She did not slow down or change lanes, but instead rear-ended the Dodge, causing it to enter the grass median and overturn several times, the FHP said.
A passenger in the Dodge Charger, 33-year old Robert Michael Hall Roy of Pace, was ejected and died from the injuries he received in the crash. The driver of the Charger, 30-year old Miguel Antonio Bonet of Whiting Field and front seat passenger Michael J. Edwards of Whiting Field, both received minor injuries. Another passenger, 24-year old Bernard Ulgalde of Milton, was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition.
Pictured: One person died and three others were injured when this Dodge Charger was rear-ended by a Brianna Lynn Strum on I-10 last April. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
