Escambia Tourism Dollars On The Upswing
January 11, 2013
Officials said Thursday that Escambia County tourism is on the upswing.
Visit Pensacola, the tourism arm of the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, said record-setting lodging revenues of $24.1 million were generated in October and November of last year, a 12 percent increase over revenues collected in the same period in 2011.
Last fiscal year, lodging revenue collections on hotel and rental stays in Escambia County totaled $178 million, an 11 percent increase over the previous year’s record.
Gulf Power Crews Win Award For Power Restoration Efforts
January 11, 2013
Gulf Power Company crews drove long hours, worked in high winds, rain and snow far away from home and their families in 2012. For their efforts, the company has been selected as a winner of the Edison Electric Institute 2012 Emergency Assistance Award.
The award recognizes the company for its restoration support in the recovery from the June storm in Virginia and Hurricanes Isaac and Sandy.
“Assisting other utilities with getting their customers’ power back on is all about customer value,” said Jeff Rogers, Corporate Communications manager. “Plus, it keeps our skills honed should a storm affect our customer area.”
EEI is the association of U.S. shareholder-owned electric companies. The awards were announced at the January association meeting Thursday morning.
One unusual aspect of this year’s award is that another utility nominated Gulf Power. Dominion Virginia Power submitted a Gulf Power nomination after the storm team assisted that utility following the heavy storms in Virginia.
Paul Koonce, CEO of Dominion Virginia Power, said he made the nomination in honor of Jackie Green, a Line Tech II for Gulf Power, who died in a vehicle accident while working storm duty.
“The Gulf Power team demonstrated courage and professionalism in the face of adversity and left a profound impact on the Dominion Virginia Power organization lasting far beyond the end of the successful restoration effort,” Koonce wrote in the nomination. “Restoration and mutual assistance is about more than poles, wire and cross arms. It is about the extraordinary people who volunteer for restoration efforts and their families, and about helping the people on the other side of the meter regardless of whether they are in Florida, Virginia or points in between.”
In 2012, Gulf Power storm teams assisted on six different events. The company sent 63 personnel to Virginia; 48 to Mississippi following Hurricane Isaac; and 70 to the Northeast following Hurricane Sandy. That team spent 17 days working in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Most recently, a storm team just returned from six days in Arkansas, following a snowstorm on Christmas Day.
“It was a busy year for storm teams,” Rogers said. “Our employees spent a lot of time away from their families to help others. That’s a strong commitment to help communities whether it’s here in Northwest Florida or wherever help is needed.”
Pictured top: Gulf Power crews work to restore power following an Arkansas snowstorm. Pictured inset: A Gulf Power team works in Pennsylvania following Hurricane Sandy. File photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Winning $213,192 Fantasy 5 Ticket Sold Near Jay
January 11, 2013
A winning ticket worth $213,192.27 in Thursday night’s Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 drawing was sold near Jay.
The Quick Pick ticket, with numbers 6-7-8-27-30 was sold at McDonald’s State Line Lotto at 15405 Highway 87 North, just south of the Alabama state line.
There was only one winning ticket sold for Thursday night’s drawing. There were also 297 tickets with four correct numbers worth $115.50 each, and 9,608 with three of five numbers worth $10 each.
Fire Destroys Travel Trailer, Damages Home
January 10, 2013
A travel trailer was destroyed and a home damaged late this afternoon on West Nine Mile Road.
Neighbors reported hearing an explosion and then seeing flames in the 1500 block of Croquet Drive east of Stefani Road shortly before 5 p.m. Firefighters were able to quickly bring the fire under control.
There were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
No Serious Injuries In Officer Involved Shooting At Dairy Queen
January 10, 2013
There were no serious injuries during an officer involved shooting Thursday afternoon near the Dairy Queen on Scenic Highway at I-10.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies were working on a narcotics investigation in the Scenic Highway area about 2 p.m. As they tried to apprehend a suspect, the deputies were forced to discharge there weapons, according to a statement released by the Sheriff’s Office. No one was hit by the gunfire.
One deputy and a suspect were treated for minor injuries received due to breaking vehicle class.
Two people were taken into custody at the scene, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said they are not searching for anyone else in connection with the incident.
Two deputies have been placed on administrative leave, as is standard procedure in officer involved shootings.
The investigation was continuing Thursday afternoon. More information will be posted as it becomes available.
Pictured: An investigation is underway after a shots fired incident came to an end at the Dairy Queen on Scenic Highway. Photo by WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged After Early Morning Quintette Road Wreck
January 10, 2013
A Cantonment man was charged after an early morning single vehicle wreck on Quintette Road.
The accident happened at 12 a.m. Thursday on Quintette Road near Rocky Branch Road. The Florida Highway Patrol said 52-year old Gordon Wallis, Jr., was eastbound on Quintette Road when he lost control of 1994 Dodge van and struck a guardrail. He was not injured.
Wallis was charged with careless driving, driving with license suspended and no proof of insurance, according to FHP.
Century Man Dies In Santa Rosa Wreck
January 10, 2013
A Century man was killed in single vehicle accident in Santa Rosa County Wednesday night.
Charles Terry Griffis, 50, was pronounced deceased at the scene of the 9:20 p.m. crash on Highway 87 about seven miles north of Milton. Griffis was a passenger in a car driven by 47-year old William Samuel Stapleton, Jr., of Milton.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Stapleton was northbound on Highway 87 when he lost control and struck a tree. He was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola in serious condition.
The FHP said neither man was wearing their seatbelt.
Charges against Stapleton are pending blood alcohol results, according to FHP.
Molino Husband Pleads To Drug, Animal Cruelty Charges; Wife Facing Trial
January 10, 2013
A Molino husband pleaded no contest Wednesday to drug and multiple animal cruelty charges while his wife continues to face trial for chaining their malnourished pit bulls in their own filth.
Their arrests came about week after a pit bull was shot and killed after charging at a deputy, and after marijuana plants were found in the backyard of the couple’s home, according to Sheriff’s Office reports.
John Oswald pleaded no contest to one felony count of producing marijuana, two felony counts of causing cruel death, pain and suffering to animals and one felony count of unlawful confinement and abandonment of animals. One additional unlawful confinement charge against Oswald was dropped by prosecutors. He is set for sentencing next week before Judge Gary Bergosh.
Amanda Oswald was also in court Wednesday on two felony counts of causing cruel death, pain and suffering to animals and two felony counts of unlawful confinement and abandonment of animals. Her case was reset for a docket day late next week. She previously pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.
Escambia County deputies responded to a complaint about an aggressive pit bull on September 21 at a residence in on Highway 29 near Cotton Lake Road. The dog was loose in the victim’s yard and had attacked and killed her dog. Deputies kept the pit bull contained in the yard and notified Escambia County Animal Control. But before animal control arrived, the pit bull attempted to attack two officers who then utilized a shotgun to stop the dog, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
When deputies attempted to contact the owner of the dog at a nearby home on Highway 29 across from the Camp Of the Pines, deputies and animal control located two other pit bulls in the backyard of the home.
“I first observed a very skinny brown pit bill dog tied to a large chain barking at me,” one deputy wrote in his report. “I then observed a very skinny black pit bull dog lying on its side, and it appeared to be dead…I observed the black dog lift its head and look at me though due to the dog being so skinny from lack of food, the dog could not stand up.”
Both dogs were “malnourished to the point of starvation”, according to an arrest report, with access to “old nasty water” and no food. Both dogs were tied to heavy chains and were surrounded by flies.
“I then observed the black pit bull who was still lying on his side struggle and make several attempts to stand to his feet. “Once on his feet, his legs were wobbly and looked like he was going to fall over,” the deputy said.
The deputy said in his report that he first though the black dog was covered in ants crawling all over it, but it was actually a “massive amount” of fleas. The dog also reportedly had an eye infection.
The two pit bulls were seized by animal control. Amanda Oswald also voluntarily surrendered a pit bull and three Yorkie dogs from inside the residence to Escambia County Animal Control.
John Oswald was also charged with one felony count of producing marijuana. During the animal cruelty investigation, deputies reported the discovery of four marijuana plants up to five feet tall and one plant growing in a bucket in the home’s backyard.
Oswald met with a narcotics investigator and admitted that the marijuana plants belonged to him, an arrest report states. “He admitted to having a pill problem prior to being involved in marijuana and that he had started growing marijuana for personal use,” the investigator wrote in his report.
Escambia County Code Enforcement also responded to the home and opened a separate investigation for various code violations.
Pedestrian Struck By Train In Ensley
January 10, 2013
A pedestrian was struck by train Wednesday morning in Ensley.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 19-year old Demtri Stone was walking northbound on the railroad tracks south of Johnson Avenue as a CSX train approached. Stone told troopers that he heard the train’s horn and stepped over the rail and continued to walk on the outside edge of the cross ties. He was hit by the left front corner of the train.
The impact threw Stone across Johnson Avenue where he landed on the north side of the roadway. Witnesses said Stone got up and was walking around right after the collision. He was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
Century To Collect County’s New Property Tax For Libraries
January 10, 2013
The Century Town Council is supporting a new Escambia County property tax as a dedicated funding source for the county’s library system. Countywide, the tax will generate an estimated $3.7 million for library operations.
At their January 28 meeting, the Century Town Council is expected to give final approval to an ordinance allowing for the MSTU to be collected within the town. The tax is estimated to cost the average Century resident from $1 to $7 on their property tax bill beginning next year.
The property tax will also apply to Pensacola residents and those in the unincorporated areas of Escambia County.
Pictured top: Century Town Council members Gary Riley, Ann Brooks, Sandra McMurry Jackson and Jacke Johnston. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.