Two Reportedly Flee Burning Vehicle Alongside Highway 29
August 9, 2013
Two people reportedly fled the scene of a vehicle fire this afternoon on Highway 29 near Molino.
The Buick Century burned alongside Highway 29 near Barth road about 12:20 p.m. Witnesses said two people jumped out of the burning Buick and fled with another driver in an unknown type vehicle.
The incident is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office. Further details were not available.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the fire.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Two Injured In Cantonment Crash
August 9, 2013
One person was injured in a two vehicle accident this morning in Cantonment.
The accident happened just after 11:00 on Highway 29 in front of the Grocery Advantage. The injured driver was transported by Escambia County EMS to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not been released. The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Teen Killed In ATV Crash, 10-Year Old Critically Injured
August 9, 2013
A teenager was killed and a 10-year old was critically injured in an ATV accident near Jay Thursday evening.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 17-year old Cheyenne Taylor Glenn of Jay was southbound on Oil Plant Road, about two miles north of Highway 4 when she failed to negotiate an uphill right curve and lost control of her 1999 Yamaha four-wheeler. The vehicle traveled up an embankment, striking several small trees. The four-wheeler then struck a large limb that had fallen and was just off the ground. The limb broke, causing it to strike Glenn and her passenger, Jadynn Dannelley of Jay.
The impact with the limb forced both occupants off the seat of the four-wheeler. Glenn was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash at 5:23 p.m. Dannelley, 10, was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where she was listed in critical condition early Friday mornig.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Pictured top: A cross was erected late Thursday night on Oil Plant Road near Jay in memory of 17-year old Cheyenne Taylor Glenn who died in an ATV accident. Pictured inset: Cheyenne Taylor Glenn. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Groundbreaking Held For New Ernest Ward Middle School (With Photo Gallery)
August 9, 2013
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Thursday moning for a new $17 million rebuild of Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill.
“It is a great investment in this community,” said Deputy Superintendent Norm Ross. “It’s also something that is long overdue.”
The oldest buildings at Ernest Ward, including the main classroom wing, were constructed in 1945 to replace a campus ravaged by fire in 1943. That old school had been constructed to replace an Ernest Ward School that first opened in a log cabin in 1896.
Ernest Ward graduate Billy Ward, who later served as a longtime probate judge in Escambia County, looked fondly Thursday at the plans for new EWMS campus as he remembered his days at what was then Ernest Ward School.
“It sure is nice,” Ward said, “I bet it will have all the buttons and extras that you can think of putting into a new building.”
Ward remembers the day in 1943 that smoke billowed toward the sky from what was then the campus of Ernest Ward on Arthur Brown Road, near the site of the modern day grain elevator. “I rode my bicycle as hard as I could to get over there and see what happened,” he said. “It just burnt to the ground.”
Classes for the remainder of 1943 and 1944 were held in the school gym, located across Arthur Brown Road and untouched by the fire.
“They divided the gym up and we finished school there,” Ward explained, “before they open the new school here (on Highway 97) in 1945. It was nice back then.”
The new Ernest Ward Middle School, expected to open in 18 to 24 months, will be more than just nice. It will be an ultra modern learning facility, according to Principal Nancy Perry.
“It’s truly an exciting day,” Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said Thursday morning. “We are grateful for everyone that’s worked so hard to make this day happen.”
Escambia County voters played a big part in making the $17 million facility a reality, thanks to the voter-approved half cent sales tax. Escambia is one of 16 of Florida’s 67 counties where voters have approved the half cent sales tax, which can be used for construction projects.
“We offer our thanks to the county voters,” School Board Chairman Jeff Bergosh said. “We just cant beat that drum enough…You can’t put a price tag on having those funds available and not having to do a bond issue for this project.”
“The half cent sales tax is the secret to this,” District 5 School Board member Bill Slayton said. “The state has all but stopped funding new schools.”
The new two-story Ernest Ward school building will be constructed as students remain on campus in the current facility. The new school will be constructed between the current building and the football stadium. Once the new building is complete, the current building will be torn down, and portables and modular buildings currently on the campus will be removed.
For a photo gallery from Thursday’s Ernest Ward Middle School groundbreaking, click here.
Pictured: A groundbreaking was held for a new $17 million Ernest Ward Middle School Thursday morning in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Past Due Customer Threatens To Blow Up Gulf Power
August 9, 2013
A woman is charged with threatening to blow up a Gulf Power building after learning her power was going to be disconnected for non-payment.
Natasha Eillen White, 31, was charged with threatening to discharged a destructive device, a second degree felony. She was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail with bond set at $15,000.
Investigators said White contacted Gulf Power to discuss a bill that was two months overdue and learned that her power was going to be disconnected. During the conversation, she made a threat to “blow up” a Gulf Power building, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators were able to trace the call and identify White as the suspect.
Pensacola’s Wu Now League Of Cities President
August 9, 2013
Pensacola City Council President P.C. Wu has moved up to president of the Florida League of Cities after the organization’s former leader, Sweetwater Mayor Manuel Marono, was suspended from office this week because of federal corruption charges.
Ryan Banfill, a spokesman for the league, said its executive committee took action Wednesday to elevate Wu, who had served as first vice president. Banfill said Wu was already preparing to take the top job next week, as Marono’s term was set to expire.
“There was already a period of transition going on anyway,” Banfill said.
Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday issued executive orders suspending Marono and Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi after federal authorities charged them with conspiracy to commit extortion in a fraudulent grant scheme.
NOAA Cuts Back Hurricane Forecast; Above Average Season Still Expected
August 9, 2013
Weather forecasters have cut back the number of storms forecast for this hurricane season, but they still expect this to be an active season.
NOAA issued its updated Atlantic hurricane season outlook Thursday saying the season is shaping up to be above normal with the possibility that it could be very active. The season has already produced four named storms, with the peak of the season – mid-August through October – yet to come.
“Our confidence for an above-normal season is still high because the predicted atmospheric and oceanic conditions that are favorable for storm development have materialized,” said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. “Also, two of the four named storms to-date formed in the deep tropical Atlantic, which historically is an indicator of an active season.”
The conditions in place now are similar to those that have produced many active Atlantic hurricane seasons since 1995, and include above-average Atlantic sea surface temperatures and a stronger rainy season in West Africa, which produces wind patterns that help turn storm systems there into tropical storms and hurricanes.
The updated outlook calls for a 70 percent chance of an above-normal season. Across the Atlantic Basin for the entire season – June 1 to November 30 – NOAA’s updated seasonal outlook (which includes the activity to date of tropical storms Andrea, Barry, Chantal, and Dorian) projects a 70 percent chance for each of the following ranges:
- 13 to 19 named storms (top winds of 39 mph or higher), including
- 6 to 9 hurricanes (top winds of 74 mph or higher), of which
- 3 to 5 could be major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of at least 111 mph)
These ranges are above the 30-year seasonal averages of 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes.
The updated outlook is similar to the pre-season outlook issued in May, but with a reduced expectation for extreme levels of activity. Motivating this change is a decreased likelihood that La Niña will develop and bring its reduced wind shear that further strengthens the hurricane season. Other factors are the lack of hurricanes through July, more variability in the wind patterns across the tropical Atlantic Ocean and slightly lower hurricane season model predictions. In May, the outlook called for 13-20 named storms, 7-11 hurricanes and 3-6 major hurricanes.
“The peak of the hurricane season is almost upon us and it’s important to remain prepared for hurricanes through November,” said Joe Nimmich, FEMA Associate Administrator for Response and Recovery. “Make sure to review your family emergency plan, check that your emergency kit is stocked and consider insurance options.”
Man Gets 15 Years For Robbing Sleeping Victim
August 9, 2013
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to prison for robbing sleeping man last year.
Arion Goble was sentenced by Judge Ross Goodman to 15 years in state prison for robbery with a firearm wearing a mask, burglary of a dwelling armed with a firearm wearing a mask and grand theft wearing a mask. Goble was convicted by an Escambia County jury last month.
On August 10, 2012, Arion Goble and Jeffery Pruitt entered into the victim’s apartment with masks over their faces. They both entered the bedroom and awoke the sleeping victim. Goble forced the victim to the ground and held a shotgun to his head. Pruitt then searched the bedroom and stole $800. Afterwards, both Goble and Pruitt fled the scene and split the money. Both Pruitt and Goble made admissions to other persons shortly after the crime. Goble was identified by the victim due to a distinct tattoo on his forearm.
On April 4, 2013, Pruitt pled to the crimes of principal to robbery armed with a firearm and principal to burglary of dwelling armed with a firearm and was sentenced to 10 years in state prison. As a condition of his sentence, he was required to testify truthfully regarding the involvement of other persons in this case. At Goble’s trial, Pruitt did testify that he and Goble committed the crimes.
Florida Virtual School Cuts Staff
August 9, 2013
Pointing to a change in the state’s education-financing formula, Florida Virtual School eliminated 177 full-time positions.
Florida Virtual School is the state’s online public school, and the legislative change led to traditional school systems receiving fewer dollars than last year for students who enroll in online courses.
House education appropriations Chairman Erik Fresen, R-Miami, said the change was needed because Florida Virtual School was receiving a disproportionately large share of money.
$1 Million Powerball Ticket Sold In Escambia County
August 9, 2013
Four players in Florida won $1 million each in Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing. One of those tickets was sold in Escambia County at the Circle K at 4500 East Olive Road.
The $1 million ticket was claimed Thursday afternoon by Melissa Wienmann of Pensacola.
According to Weinmann, her husband is stationed at NAS Pensacola and is a Staff Sergeant in the Marines. They had been experiencing financial struggles due to her recent furlough. However, they are now looking forward to taking their grandson to Disney World in Orlando for his fifth birthday. Weinmann also stated that she intends to pay off their debt and set up a college fund for their grandson.
The winning numbers from the Powerball draw were 05-25-30-58-59, and the Powerball was 32. Each of the four retailers received a $1,000 bonus commission for selling a $1 million Powerball ticket, and more than $32 million was transferred to the state’s Educational Enhancement Trust Fund from this series of rollovers.
There were three winning tickets sharing the $448 million prize. Two of the winning tickets were sold in New Jersey and the third was sold in Minnesota.