Miller Opposes Military Strike Against Syria
September 2, 2013
President Barack Obama will seek congressional approval to order military strikes against Bashar al Assad’s Syrian regime in response to claims of chemical weapons use against the civilian population in that country.
Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Chumuckla), who represents the North Escambia area, does not support the military action.
“I think it is appropriate for the President to seek approval from Congress before launching an attack on Syria. However, I do not feel a strike on Syria is in the best interest of our country. The civil war in Syria, while tragic, does not have critical national security implications for the United States. I know the intelligence and intend to vote no on the authorization for military action,” Miller said Sunday.
Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday he is confident that Congress “will do what is right,” as Obama seeks approval for a military strike against Syria. Kerry calls the case against Syria “overwhelming.” He said the president has the power to act, no matter what Congress decides.
U.S. intelligence says more than 1,000 civilians, including entire families, were killed when Syrian forces dropped poison gas on four Damascus suburbs August 21.
Obama says the United States should take military action against Syria but thinks it is important for the country to have a debate on the issue. He has formally asked Congress to let him use military force in Syria to “deter, disrupt, prevent and degrade” the potential for more chemical attacks. He says no U.S. troops would go to Syria.
About 800 Acres Off Jacks Branch Road May Be Rezoned For Commercial, Other Development
September 2, 2013
The Escambia County Planning Board and the Escambia County Commission are considering a request to rezone just over 800 acres off Jacks Branch Road from residential to a variety of zoning districts including residential and retail commercial.
The property is located at 900 Jacks Branch Road and lies east of Jacks Branch and north of Well Line Road, all to the west of Highway 29. The rezoning is being proposed by the DDJ Land Company, LLC, managed by Jerry and Donald Long of Pensacola.
An area of 444 acres, 275 of which are not wetlands, would be rezoned to C-1 (commercial). The area would be intended to serve the surrounding area with larger and small scale retail, office and residential use. The center will be designed around pedestrian and utilized plazas and other public space “to create an attractive environment”, according to the application.
A 74 acre area, 60 acres of which are not wetlands, would be rezoned R-4 to allow for neighborhoods comprised primarily of attached single and multifamily residential dwellings. The roads will be designed in a gridded system, with public spaces for civic, community and recreational areas.
A 156 acre area, 65 acres not wetlands, would be zoned V-5. The area would be located in the “rural” area of the development with subdivision that would be clustered single family homes focusing on efficient use of land and infrastructure, conventional large lot development and accessible open space.
A 107 acre parcel, 85 which are not wetlands, would be zoned R-3 with a range of housing types on a gridded block road system.
An R-4 zoned area of 25 acres would provide a housing area of a variety of attached and detached residential homes. Parks, conservation and public spaces would be focal point for the neighborhoods.
The Escambia County Commission is expected to set a public hearing on the rezoning request for October 3 at 5:45 p.m. The Escambia County Planning Board will consider the proposal on Monday, September 9 at 8:30 a.m.
Pictured top: A location map for about 800 acres that may be rezoned. Pictured east: Looking north into the parcel from Well Line Road. Pictured below: Looking east into the parcel from Jacks Branch Road. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Dies In Lynn Haven Accidental Shooting
September 2, 2013
A 32-year old Escambia County man was killed when a gun accidentally discharged early Saturday morning at a Lynn Haven, Fla., home.
The victim was identified by the Lynn Haven Police Department as Anthony Jamar Pickering. The shooting was from “an accidental discharge while handling a firearm”, according to the Lynn Haven Police Department.
The incident happened at a home on Kentucky Avenue in Lynn Haven. Local police said the only other person in the home at the time was the victim’s brother, Allan Jermaine Pickering. But police stressed the shooting was not a violent act.
The incident remains under investigation by the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Century Council Meeting Rescheduled
September 2, 2013
The regular first Monday night of the month council meeting tonight in Century has been rescheduled due to the Labor Day holiday.
This month, the Century Town Council will meet Monday, September 9 and Monday, September 16 at 7 p.m. at the Century Town Hall. All meetings are open to the public.
Cantonment Sonic Abruptly Closes
September 2, 2013
There’s no official word yet as to why the Sonic restaurant on Highway 29 in Cantonment abruptly closed this weekend. Customers who drove into the drive-in chain were greeted with missing menu boards and a sign that stated “We Are Now Closed” and directed customers to another Sonic location on Pensacola Boulevard.
The restaurant was constructed in 2007.
Pictured top and inset: Missing menu boards at the now closed Sonic location on Highway 29 in Cantonment. Pictured below: A sign announcing the closure of the Sonic on Highway 29 in Cantonment. Photos by Kristi Smith and Brad Johnson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Week Ahead: Prep Football Schedule
September 2, 2013
Here is a preview of Friday night’s high school football schedule from across the North Escambia area.
FLORIDA
- Northview at Marianna, 7 p.m.
- PHS at Tate, 7:30 p.m.
- Milton at West Florida, 7 p.m.
- Pine Forest at Catholic, 7:30 p.m.
- Rocky Bayou Christian at Jay, 7 p.m.
- Escambia at Mosley, 7 p.m.
- Pass Christian (Miss.) at Washington, 7:30 p.m.
- Niceville at Pace, 7:30 p.m.
- Navarre at Wakulla, 7:30 p.m.
- Gulf Breeze at Fort Walton Beach, 7 p.m.
ALABAMA
- Clarke County at Escambia County, 7 p.m.
- Hooper Academy at Escambia Academy, 7 p.m.
- Washington County at Flomaton, 7 p.m.
- T.R. Miller at Opp, 7 p.m.
- Straughn at W.S. Neal, 7 p.m.
Smith Leads Pensacola Wahoos 5-1 Over Mobile BayBears
September 2, 2013
Josh Smith fired seven shutout innings and picked up his first hit of the season as part of a 5-1 Blue Wahoos win over the Mobile BayBears on Sunday evening at Hank Aaron Stadium. The win snapped Pensacola’s four-game losing streak.
Smith (W, 11-9) allowed just four hits during his seven strong innings, only one of which made it through the infield without at least being knocked down. The Southern League leader in strikeouts added four K’s to his ledger to bring his season total to 139. In addition, Smith reached on an infield single in the sixth inning for his first professional hit in 36 at-bats this season.
Pensacola provided plenty of offense for Smith, knocking Mobile starter David Holmberg out after five innings. Holmberg (L 5-8), making his first appearance since his Major League on debut on Tuesday, gave up two runs in the third inning on a Brandon Short single and a Travis Mattair ground out to make it 2-0. Chris Berset added a sac fly in the last of the fifth to make it 3-0. Holmberg gave up the three runs on eight hits with a strikeout and three walks.
Yorman Rodriguez smacked a two-run homer, his fourth of the season in the top of the ninth to provide some extra cushion. Lee Hyde saw his scoreless inning streak come to an end at 39 frames on Dustin Martin’s solo homer in the last of the ninth. Hyde had not given up a run since May 21 and his 31.2 scoreless frames with the Wahoos set a new franchise record.
The two teams will close out the 2013 season with a Labor Day matinee at Hank Aaron Stadium. Robert Stephenson (0-1, 3.45) gets the ball for Pensacola while Mobile will counter with Bo Schultz (5-4, 2.96). First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m.
Lightning May Be To Blame For Bratt Fire
September 1, 2013
Lightning may be to blame for a fire inside a Bratt home this afternoon.
The residents of the 2800 block of Breastworks Road reported smoke in their brick home about 4:50 p.m. Firefighters arriving on scene reported light smoke in the structure coming from a burned computer.
There were no injuries reported.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were dispatched to the incident.
Pictured inset and below: Light smoke pours out of a Breastworks Road home in Bratt Sunday afternoon. Pictured top: The source of the smoke was traced on burned computer equipment. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Labor Day Closings
September 1, 2013
The following will be closed for the Labor Day holiday:
- All county offices in Escambia and Santa Rosa
- All city offices, including Century, Jay and Pensacola
- Schools in Escambia and Santa Rosa
- All public libraries, including Century, Jay and Pensacola
- Florida state offices
- All federal offices
- All post offices
- No bus service from ECAT, except for Pensacola Beach trolleys
- Pensacola State College
- University of West Florida
- The USPS retail windows. No carrier delivery. No mail collected from boxes. Express Mail will be delivered.
Trash Service
There will be no change in ECUA garbage, recycling, bulk or yard waste collections. The Perdido Landfill will be open, but administrative offices will be closed.
Public Hearing Set On Gulf Power Rate Increase Proposal
September 1, 2013
The Florida Public Service Commission has scheduled a customer service hearing in Pensacola to hear about a Gulf Power Company rate increase.
Gulf Power is asking the Florida PSC to approve a two-step price increase to help pay for the largest power grid construction program in the history of the company. The first increase would not take effect until April 2014, and it would increase the total bill for a residential customer buying 1,000-kilowatt hours by $8.94 per month or 7.5 percent — from the current price of $118.88 to $127.82.
The second step of the increase — related to the new environmental requirements — would not occur until 2015 and would raise the monthly bill an additional $1.99.
Anyone wishing to speak for, or against, the rate increase is welcome at the PSC meeting on Tuesday, September 3 at 4 p.m. in the Hagler Auditorium at Pensacola State College. The hearing will continue until everyone wishing to speak is heard.
Gulf Power said over the next three years the company is building and replacing power lines and infrastructure — some more than 70 years old — to keep electricity flowing to its 430,000 customers. In addition, new lines and equipment are needed to comply with new mandatory federal environmental regulations.
Part of the new transmission line construction is to help the company comply with new federal environmental regulations that will change the way the company operates its plants and will require plants to be shut down at regular intervals. The new lines and equipment will be used to ensure voltage stability and reliable power flow while the plants are offline.
Pictured inset: Gulf Power crews making upgrades to a distribution line. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.