Teen Suffers Minor Injuries After Wild Airborne McDavid Wreck (With Gallery)
April 5, 2013
A 17-year old McDavid teen is recovering after single vehicle accident Thursday night in which her van was airborne for about 200 feet.
Authorities said Taylor M. Brook had donated blood at a blood drive in Century shortly before the 6:38 p.m. crash on Highway 29 north of Highway 164. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, she fainted as she was traveling southbound on Highway 29 as a result.
Brook veered off the roadway and struck a culvert. Her 2006 Ford Freestyle traveled about 200 feet while airborne. The vehicle vaulted over a ditch, the chain link fence in front of a residence at 1401 North Century Boulevard and went though the top of a tree, just below the roadside power lines. The front of the vehicle struck the ground and the vehicle overturned, coming to rest on its passenger side in a front yard.
Brook was airlifted by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, where she was listed in good condition early Friday morning. Family members said it appeared that she suffered no major injuries.
No charges were filed in the crash, according to the FHP.
Pictured top: A McDavid teen suffered only minor injuries after this wreck Thursday evening on Highway 29. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Shot In Escambia County; Woman Cut On The Head With Knife
April 5, 2013
Two people were shot in Escambia County Thursday afternoon, and woman was cut on the head with a knife Thursday night in Pensacola.
Brent Shooting
Just after 4 p.m., deputies received a report of a shooting in the area of Cary Memorial Drive and Lenox Parkway. Witnesses told deputies that the victim was shot multiple times following a disturbance. The victim then walked to a nearby yard on Quina Way where he collapsed. He was transported to a local hospital by Escambia County EMS with unknown injuries.
Further details have not yet been released as the investigation continues.
Old Palafox Shooting
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a shooting that took place at approximately 4:30 p.m. m at the In and Out Deli, 6861 North Palafox Street.
The victim transported to local hospital. Early indications are the victim was involved in an accidental shooting, but the investigation will continue by the Sheriff’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office.
Woman Cut On The Head
An argument between two women escalated into a physical confrontation Thursday night, ending with one of them being cut on the head and the other going to jail.
Sharise Lewis, 19, was charged with burglary with assault or battery.
The incident occurred just before 7 p.m. at Pensacola Village on East Fairfield Drive. Pensacola Police Officer Coy McKenna said Lewis and Shavonyul James, 22, also of Pensacola Village, got into an argument on the front porch of James’ apartment. The two women ended up inside James’ apartment where they continued fighting.
James told police she told Lewis multiple times to leave her apartment, but she didn’t and
began hitting her. James said she feared for her safety and the safety of her children so she began defending herself. As a result, she grabbed a knife and cut Lewis on the head.
Police were told the incident occurred after James’ 3-year-old son and Lewis’ son, who is approximately the same age, had been playing earlier. James’ son hit Lewis’ son, and Lewis became angry.
Lewis was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Prescription Drug Take Back To Be Held In Escambia County
April 5, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Walgreens, in coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will conduct a drug take-back program at five local Walgreens stores on Saturday April 27, 2013 from 10:00 to 2:00 pm.
The “Prescription Drug Round-Up” is a one-day effort between local and federal law enforcement to provide the public a site to voluntarily surrender expired, unwanted, unused pharmaceutically controlled substances, and other medications for destruction.
“Prescription drug abuse is not uncommon in our society and this is an opportunity for members of our community to get rid of their unwanted drugs before they fall into the hands of someone who may abuse or misuse them,” said Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan.
On September 29, 2012, the “Prescription Drug Round-Up” in Escambia County collected more than 438 pounds of unused and unwanted prescription and over the counter drugs.
At this year’s event deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and officials from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection providing information on the environmental benefits and ways citizens should dispose of prescription drugs properly.
The event will take place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 27 at the following Walgreens locations:
- Walgreens 4497 Mobile Hwy
- Walgreens 5995 Mobile Hwy
- Walgreens 85 Beverly Pkwy
- Walgreens 6314 North 9th Ave
- Walgreens 1841 East Olive Rd
Wahoos Ride Homers To Opening Day Win
April 5, 2013
The Blue Wahoos opened up their 2013 season with a bang, smacking four home runs en route to a 7-3 triumph over the Tennessee Smokies. The sellout crowd of 5,038 was the first of the season and 41st in 69 home dates in the history of the Pensacola franchise.
Pensacola was in control for nearly the entire game thanks to its balanced attack and powerful hitting. Travis Mattair started the show launching the first pitch he saw in Double-A deep over the left field wall in the second inning. Bryson Smith followed suit a frame later, sending a line drive shot over the left field fence to square the game at two. In the fourth, it was Tucker Barnhart who crushed on 0-1 pitch off the batter’s eye in center field to put the Wahoos on top 3-2, a lead they would never relinquish. Donald Lutz joined the home run party in the seventh, lifting an opposite field shot to left to open the score up to 5-2.
The Wahoos also had RBI’s from Ryan LaMarre, with an RBI groundout in the fourth, and Devin Lohman, who added a two-RBI single in the eighth to cap the scoring.
Tennessee’s offense centered around shortstop Arismendy Alcantara. The Dominican native accounted for all three of the Smokies’ RBI’s, including a two-out, two-run tater in the top of third that gave Tennessee it’s only lead of the game at 2-1.
Chad Rogers (1-0) earned the win for Pensacola, tossing five innings of four-hit ball while strking out four and allowing two runs. Yohan Pino, Drew Hayes, and Lee Hyde all earned holds in relief, with Hyde getting the powerful Justin Bour to ground out with the tying runs in scoring position in the top of the eighth.
Tennessee starter Dallas Beeler was harmed by three home runs in 5.1 innings and took the loss to fall to 0-1 on the season.
The balanced Wahoos attack saw eight of the nine starters record at least one base hit, including the pitcher Rogers. Barnhart and Brodie Greene attributed two base hits apiece while Lohman had the lone multi-RBI game.
The series continues tomorrow as Josh Smith takes the hill for the Wahoos against Alberto Cabrera for the Smokies. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
Story By Kevin Burke
Pictured: The Blue Wahoos opened their season Thursday night with a win over the Tennessee Smokies. Photos by Gary McCraken, Pensacola Blue Wahoos, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Beats Chipley
April 5, 2013
The Northview Chiefs beat Chipley 4-2 Thursday night on the road.
Daulton Tullis went seven innings, striking out nine and giving up four hits. Kevin Vaughan was 2-4 at the plate.
The varsity Chiefs will travel to Freeport on Tuesday, April 9 before returning home to Bratt on Thursday, April 11 against the Baker Gators.
Tate Cheerleading Tryouts To Be Held Next Week
April 5, 2013
Tate High School Cheerleading tryouts will be held April 8-12 in the Tate gym after school. Information packets can be picked up at Tate’s main office or online by clicking here.
Florida Alimony Overhaul Clears Senate, Ready For Full House
April 5, 2013
The Senate on Thursday approved a bill that will revamp the state’s alimony laws, with supporting saying it will give greater certainty to the amounts of alimony payments between former spouses. Senators voted 29-11 to approved the measure sponsored by Lakeland Republican Kelli Stargel.
The bill, for example, ends the concept of permanent alimony and also creates standards for the award of alimony based on the lengths of marriages. Stargel said she has tried to create a “fair framework” with the bill.
But Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, said she thinks the bill will have “bad, unintended consequences” and that it could create problems for women with children.
The House version of the overhaul has cleared committees and is ready to go to the full House.
By The News Service of Florida
ECUA’s Water Selected As ‘Best Tasting’ In Region
April 5, 2013
ECUA’s drinking water was selected as the “2013 Best Tasting Water” winner in a taste-test competition held recently in Destin. The annual event was sponsored by Region IX of the Florida Section/American Water Works Association (FS/AWWA).
Region IX is comprised of all water utilities in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties.
The FS/AWWA is divided into 12 Regions, each hosting their own regional competition. Participation in the Best Tasting Drinking Water Contest is open only to water providers within the geographical region who have not experienced any violations in the federal or state safe drinking water regulatory requirements. Destin Water users hosted the event and provided a panel of impartial judges. Each water sample was evaluated for taste, odor, color, and clarity.
“ECUA water has been recognized as the best-tasting water in the Florida Panhandle for the fourth time in seven years. Our Water Department staff have done us all proud,” said ECUA Board Chairman Larry Walker.
As a four-time winner of the Region IX competition, ECUA will now compete against the other 11 FS/AWWA Regions’ winners in the state-wide competition later this month in Orlando at the Florida Water Resource Conference.
Pictured: One of ECUA’s 32 water wells located on Tate Road in Cantonment. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Christens New Fire Boat
April 5, 2013
The Pensacola Fire Department christened a new fire boat Thursday morning.
“The City of Pensacola is very proud of our first-class fire department,” said Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. “As we look to continue developing our downtown waterfront and growing business at our Port, this new amenity and the enhanced protection it provides is invaluable.”
The 36-foot “Fire Boat One” was purchased with $612,000 from the Federal Department of Homeland Security’s Port Security Grant Program. The boat will allow the Pensacola Fire Department to provide firefighting as well as medical and rescue services across Pensacola’s waterfront and Pensacola Bay, as well as to surrounding communities like Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach if necessary. “This fire boat is truly a regional asset,” said Mayor Hayward.
Over the years, the City of Pensacola has had several serious waterfront fires. In the 1940s and 1950s, a series of fires destroyed many of Pensacola’s waterfront docks and port facilities. More recently, in 2008, the popular Oar House restaurant on Bayou Chico caught fire.
Fire Boat One has a top speed of 45 miles per hour and a maximum pump capacity of 2,000 gallons per minute.
Pictured: The Pensacola Fire Department’s new Fire Boat One was christened Thursday morning. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Serious Injuries In Pine Forest, Longleaf Crash
April 4, 2013
There were no serious injuries in a Thursday morning wreck that tied up traffic near Pine Forest and West Florida high schools, and Longleaf Elementary.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 47-year old Timothy L. Wilson was southbound on Pine Forest Road at Longleaf Drive about 7:35 a.m. when he turned in front of a 2004 Cadillac Deville driven by 31-year old Toccara S Shine-Dees. Wilson’s Ford Explorer overturned onto its left side, while the Cadillac struck a pedestrian control signal.
Wilson and his passenger, 15-year old Dylan J. Shepherd, were not injured. Shine-Dees suffered minor injuries and was transported to West Florida Hospital.
Wilson was cited by the FHP for turning left in front of approaching traffic.