One Critically Injured In Jacks Branch Road Wreck
March 25, 2013
One person was critically injured in a two vehicle wreck late Sunday afternoon near Cantonment.
The accident happened just before 6 p.m. in a sharp curve on Jacks Branch Road between the two entrances to Green Tree Circle. Two cars collided and came to rest in a concrete ditch. The female driver of one vehicle was transported to a Pensacola hospital with critical injuries; the driver of a Honda Civic was uninjured.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Names and further details a have not been released.
Pictured: One person was critically injured in this two vehicle crash late Sunday afternoon on Jacks Branch Road near Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Candidate With Century Ties Seeks Clay Ford’s Seat
March 25, 2013
A financial expert with ties to Century has announced he will seek the Florida House District 2 seat that was held by Clay Ford until his death last year.
Ed Gray III of Gulf Breeze heads up Capital Trust Agency and Gulf Breeze Financial Services.
Capital Trust Agency is an independent public body for the purpose of financing or otherwise accomplishing development programs. Century entered into the Capital Trust Agency with Gulf Breeze in 1999 with Century essentially serving as the “second signature” for CTA.
Century has received over a half million dollars in fees since the inception of CTA.
Gray has previously served on the Gulf Breeze City Council and later serviced as mayor. He later served as chair of the Santa Rosa County School Board.
Search Continues For ID Of Man That Exposed Himself In Multiple Stores
March 25, 2013
Investigators said Sunday that the search in continuing for the identity of a man that allegedly exposed himself to children at multiple stores last weekend. The joint investigation is being conducted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Pensacola Police Department.
The incidents occurred around 1 and 3 p.m. March 16 inside retail stores in the city and county, said Pensacola Police Detective Jeff Brown. The suspect reportedly followed the two females, ages 10 and 11, around the stores and when they were alone, he exposed himself to them.
The man was wearing a gray T-shirt with a dark logo on the front and back and a dark baseball cap. In one surveillance photograph he was wearing long dark pants and in another he had on dark shorts.
Authorities said he appears to be a middle aged white male with short or bald hair with a light colored goatee or beard. He is believed to be about 40 to 60 years old. He’s wanted for a lewd and lascivious act involving a minor.
Anyone with information on his identity is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP, the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1900, Detective Jeff Brown at (850) 435-1980, or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Sex Crimes Unit at (850) 436-9632.
Unique Crop: Sodbuster Radish In Hwy 29, Hwy 97 Field
March 25, 2013
A rather unique, and pretty, plant grew throughout the winter in a field at the corner of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino.
According to Libbie Johnson UF IFAS Escambia County extension agent, the crop was a mixture of Sodbuster radish and oats in a filed owned by local producer Eric Koehn.
Sodbuster brand radish is a new cover crop developed in New Zealand, according to Richard Petcher, retired Auburn Extension Agronomist agent and proprietor of Petcher Seeds. The Sodbuster’s large taproots are superior and can penetrate as far as six feet deep. The fleshy upper part can “bust” a hole from 10-20 inches long and 2-3 inches wide. And the taproot both plows and breaks the hard soil while scavaging for plant nutrients.
The crop was recently sprayed by a herbicide to kill it. The root will decompose in just a few weeks, leaving open holes where rainwater can penetrate the soil. According to Petcher, the crop is an excellent scavenger for nutrients and can release 80 pounds of Nitrogen and 5 tons of organic matter for the next crop. Wildlife, especially deer, love this radish.
In November, Eric planted five pounds of seed per acre and added some oats to the mixture. Although he didn’t add apply any fertilizer to the crop, he said he is satisfied with the stand and hopes to see some benefits in the cotton he plans on growing on the field this summer.
For more information on Sodbuster radish, visit www.petcherseeds.com or call the UF IFAS Escambia County Extension office at (850) 475-5230 or email libbiej@ufl.edu.
Molino Man Critically Injured In Early Morning Wreck
March 25, 2013
A Molino man was critically injured in a single vehicle wreck early Sunday morning in Molino.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Mark Allen Ships, Jr. was traveling west on Molino Road near Chestnut Road about 3:30 a.m. when he crossed over the eastbound lane and onto the shoulder. He continued on the shoulder until he struck a cement culvert and cement embankment with the front of his 2002 Jeep Liberty.
Shipps was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital as a “trauma alert”.
Charges against Shipps are pending, according to the FHP. The Molino, Cantonment and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were also dispatched to the crash.
Pictured: One person was critically injured in this one vehicle accident early Sunday morning in Molino. Photos by Kristi Smith for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FHP Investigating After Driver Flees Creighton Road Crash
March 24, 2013
The Florida Highway Patrol is searching for the driver that fled the scene of rollover accident this morning. The accident happened about 7:05 a.m. on Creighton Road just off Davis Highway. Authorities said the occupant or occupants of the vehicle had fled the scene before first responders arrived on scene. Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate’s Rivers Signs Soccer Scholarship With Belhaven
March 24, 2013
Tate High School senior Michael Rivers has signed to play soccer with Belhaven University in Jackson, Miss.
Rivers played soccer all four years at Tate High School, with two goals and 10 assists this year for the Aggies. He was chosen as this year’s Tate Boys Soccer Scholar Athlete.
In addition to his stellar performance on the soccer field, Rivers has earned numerous awards and accolades during this four years in ROTC at Tate. He is also an Eagle Scout and a member of the Tate’s Interact, Spanish and Beta clubs.
Pictured: Tate’s Michael Rivers has signed to play soccer with Belhaven University in Jackson, Miss. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Negron, Gaetz: Cut Vehicle Registration Fees
March 24, 2013
Eliminating a quarter century-old tax credit for the insurance industry could allow the state to reduce the annual vehicle registration fees that were raised during the heart of the Great Recession, Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, chairman of the Appropriations Committee proposed.
Negron, who intends to formally present his proposal as a committee bill, predicted that by eliminating the tax credit established in 1987, motorists overall could see up to $220 million a year in savings if the 2009 vehicle registration fee increase was cut in half.
When the economy tanked at the end of 2008, lawmakers the next year, desperately seeking revenue but unwilling to raise taxes, made a controversial decision to raise fees on drivers instead. Opponents said it was regressive – hurting poor people as much or more than the wealthy.
The move, as lawmakers were facing a $6 billion shortfall, increased vehicle registration fees by 35 percent, as the cost of renewals, titles and driver licenses all were boosted.
“We were all elected, and we should make decisions that reflect our priorities today,” Negron said during the committee meeting on Thursday.
Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, quickly sent out a release supporting Negron’s proposal.
“In 2009, during a difficult budget year, the Legislature made the hard choice to increase certain fees associated with driving a vehicle in lieu of raising taxes, or taking draconian cuts to critical state services,” Gaetz said. “However, times have changed and it is time that we reprioritize and evaluate ways to keep more money in the pockets of hard working Floridians.”
The insurance industry tax credit was designed to offset the Insurance Premium Tax.
But Negron noted that only one other state, Arkansas, offers a similar discount that has allowed insurance companies to get rebates of 15 percent of the salaries of their employees in Florida.
House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, expressed interest in the proposal after the House session on Thursday, but said he’ll have his budget chairs review the plan.
“It’s an interesting idea,” Weatherford said. “I’m not a fan of those taxes either.”
House Minority Leader Rep. Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, intends to approach the proposal with caution.
“We would think that it would be a good idea to bring down the costs to everyday Americans who have to drive because in Florida we don’t have mass transit,” Thurston said.
“But we’re concerned about those type of proposals, because when you’re given incentives we want to know who is getting the benefit of those incentives?” he added. “Is it for working Floridians or are we just giving a handout to a big company without them having to be accountable, which we wouldn’t support.”
By The News Service of Florida
Poll Finds Favor For Toughening Gun Controls
March 24, 2013
Just over half of Florida voters back stricter controls on guns, according to a poll just released.
The Quinnipiac University poll found that registered Florida voters back stricter statewide gun-control laws by a 51-44 percent. The poll also found that 56 percent of voters support a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons with 41 percent opposed. Voters also favor a ban on the sale of high capacity magazines 53 percent to 43 percent.
The poll was taken last week among registered voters across the state and has a margin of error of plus minus 3.1 percentage points.
By The News Service of Florida
Barrineau Park 4-H’ers Take Three Blue Ribbons At District
March 24, 2013
Three members of the Barrineau Park 4-H took blue ribbons in the District 4-H competition held Saturday.
Placing first in the Animal Science Demonstrations/Illustration Talk category were:
- Izzy Kent — “One Bad Stomach Ache – Goat Bloat”
- Dillon Conti – “Meat Cuts of a Pig”
- Jessica Conti – “It’s a Hogs Life”
The district event Saturday at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church included 4-H members from Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties.
For more information on the Barrineau Park 4-H Club call Tena Gindl at (850) 698-3441.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.