One Injured In 10 Mile, Palafox Crash
July 28, 2013
One person was injured in a two vehicle crash Sunday afternoon at 10 Mile Road and Palafox Street.
The injured driver was trapped briefly in their overturned vehicle before being extricated by firefighters. The person was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by Escambia County EMS with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the second vehicle was not injured in the 3:55 p.m. crash.
The Ensley, Cantonment and Ferry Pass stations of Escambia Fire Rescueresponded to the crash, along with the Florida Highway Patrol and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The accident remains under investigation by the FHP; further details have not been released.
Pictured: One person was injured in this two vehicle crash Sunday afternoon at 10 Mile Road and Palafox Street. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
School Board Adopts Tentative Millage Rate, Budget
July 28, 2013
A millage rate and tentative budget for the 2013-2014 school year have been approved by the Escambia County School Board.
The millage rate was set at 7.557, which equates to about $755 in taxes per $100,000 in taxable property value. That is a slight decrease from last year’s 7.758 millage rate. The board also approved a tentative operating budget that totaled $553 million.
Possibly Stolen BMW Found Torched At Century Boat Landing
July 28, 2013
A possibly stolen BMW was found torched in Century Saturday morning.
The 2012 BMW was already destroyed by fire when it was discovered about 6:00 a.m. Saturday at Fischer’s Landing near the West Highway 4 bridge over the Escambia River. Preliminary information indicated that the possibly stolen car had been set on fire; the arson is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshals Office.
The driver of the vehicle had fled the scene prior to the arrival of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the fire department.
The incident is also under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blaze.
Further details have not yet been released.
Pictured: A stolen BMW was found burnt out at Fischer’s Landing in Century early Saturday morning. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Iraqi Educator Learns About American Farming In Walnut Hill
July 28, 2013
A few farming tips from Walnut Hill may be put to use in Iraq soon.
Walnut Hill farmer Mike Koehn and UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County Extension Agent Libbie Johnson recently hosted Bashar Hwaidi from the Qadisiyah province of Iraq on a short farm tour. Bashar was in Escambia County with a larger delegation of teenage visitors from the Gulf Coast Diplomacy Council.
During his trip to Walnut Hill, Hwaidi wanted to learn more about American agriculture and take the knowledge back to Iraq where he serves as an educator at the Small Business Development Center in Diwanyah City.
Hwaidi learned about cotton and peanut production, GPS navigation, financing and marketing systems for row crop farmers.
Ben Koehn of Walnut Hill also demonstrated “hands off” tractor driving in which GPS navigation is used to steer a tractor over an exact path in a field.
Hwaidi explained that precision agriculture is not the norm in Iraq and that he was very interested to see how different production practices are between Walnut Hill and Iraq.
Pictured top and inset: Walnut Hill farmer Mike Koehn explain American farming practices to an Iraqi educator. Pictured below: Bashar Hwaidi from Iraq watches a GPS is used to self-steer a John Deere tractor through a Walnut Hill field. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Broxson, FWC To Hold Black Bear Workshop After Jump In Sightings
July 28, 2013
Due a recent rise in bear encounters, especially in Santa Rosa County, Rep. Doug Broxson and the Wildlife Conservation Commission are hosting a public workshop for area residents to learn how to protect their home and property from bear intrusion.
After dwindling to as few as 300 bears in the 1970s, the Florida black bear population has rebounded to more than 3,000 bears today. The FWC has reported a dramatic increase in bear reports from Santa Rosa County. In 2002, there were 10 bear reports, and in 2012 that number jumped to 386 calls.
“As Santa Rosa County’s population has increased over the last decade, so has the bear population. As a result, the presence of bears in residential areas is higher than ever. We must address the property damage and safety concerns of residents,” Broxson said.
Officials from the FWC will answer questions and discuss preventative measures homeowners can take to reduce the likelihood of a bear encounter.
The meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 31 at 6 p.m. at the Pensacola State College – South Santa Rosa Center at 5075 Gulf Breeze Parkway in Gulf Breeze.
Camp Quarternote Presents ‘Sermon on the Mound’
July 28, 2013
Dozens of local kids spent the past week learning an entire play during Highland Baptist Church’s Camp Quarternote. They performed the “Sermon on the Mound” musical Sunday night at the church.
Pictured: Highland Baptist Church’s Camp Quarternote musical “Sermon on the Mound”. Submitted photos for Northescambia.com, click to enlarge.
Dorian No Longer A Tropical Storm
July 28, 2013
Tropical Storm Dorian has degenerated into a remnant tropical wave. The last advisory is in the graphic above.
Shooting Involving Two Deputies Injures One Suspect
July 28, 2013
A shooting involving two Escambia County deputies left one person injured early this morning.
At 2:42 a.m., deputies responded to an address in the 200 block of Shadow Lawn Lane of West Navy Boulevard in reference to a possible vehicle burglary.
Neighbors said deputies had followed the man home perhaps thinking the car was stolen, but the car belonged to the victim’s mother and he had permission to drive it. The man was reportedly bent over into the car in his own driveway looking for a cigarette when deputies arrived and approached.
During the incident two deputies discharged their handguns striking the subject, who was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office are investigating. The two deputies will be placed on paid administrative leave while the incident is under investigation, which is standard procedure.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, in a written statement, said no further information will be released this weekend.
Pensacola Wahoos Drop Series Finale 4-2 To Mississippi Braves
July 28, 2013
Christian Bethancourt slapped a single through the right side in the last of the seventh inning, scoring the eventual game-winning run for the Mississippi Braves in a 4-2 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Saturday night at Trustmark Park. Mississippi took the series in the process, handing Pensacola its first loss in a rubber game this season.
The contest was scoreless headed to the fifth inning before Pensacola pushed a run across against Braves starter Ian Thomas. Travis Mattair led off the inning with a single before Ryan LaMarre reached on a sacrifice bunt as the catcher Bethancourt threw the ball into the stands. Ray Chang would then drive home Mattair with a groundout to make it 1-0.
Mississippi responded in the last of the sixth with a pair of runs against Pensacola starter Carlos Contreras. The first three Braves reached on two singles and a walk before Robby Hefflinger and Edward Salcedo lifted sacrifice flies to push Mississippi in front 2-1.
Pensacola came right back in the top of the seventh to tie the game in the seventh against Thomas on a pinch-hit sacrifice fly from Donald Lutz, scoring Ryan LaMarre, who had singled earlier in the inning. Thomas picked up his fifth win of the year with seven strong innings, allowing just two runs (one earned) on six hits with eight strikeouts.
Thomas was given the win thanks to the Braves rallying for a run in the last of the seventh. Facing Loek Van Mil, the Braves put runners on the corners with one out for Mycal Jones who grounded into a fielder’s choice with Christian Marrero being thrown out at the plate. Bethancourt picked up the tab, though, with a single to right to make it 3-2.
The Braves added an insurance tally in the eighth inning against Van Mil. Hefflinger doubled to right with one out and scored on a Jaime Pedroza single with two outs to give Mississippi a two-run advantage.
Van Mil took the loss, falling to 0-7. The right-hander allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits with a strikeout and two walks in two frames. Contreras was dealt a no-decision in his second start at Double-A, yielding two runs on five hits in 5.2 innings.
The Wahoos got the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth inning, but Andrew Russell was able to retire the side to pick up his second save of the year.
Pensacola now returns home to resume the Bay-to-Bay series with a five-game series against the Mobile BayBears. Shaun Ellis (3-2, 4.02) will get the ball for the Wahoos against the BayBears’ Andrew Chafin (7-5, 2.81). First pitch from Pensacola Bayfront Stadium is scheduled for 4 p.m.
story by Kevin Burke
Birth: Kendal Ruth Harrison
July 28, 2013
Maternal grandparents are Travis and Patsy Berry of Walnut Hill. Paternal grandparents are Wayne and Barbara Harrison of Atmore.